Cuba’s President Raul Castro is to free nearly 3,000 prisoners, including 86 foreigners from 25 countries.

An American government sub-contractor was not on the list

But an American government sub-contractor jailed in Cuba for crimes against the state was not on the list of 2,900 granted amnesty.

“Alan Gross is not on the list,” Josefina Vidal, who heads the Foreign Ministry’s North American affairs division, said, dashing the hopes of Mr Gross’ supporters in the United States, who have been pleading with Cuban authorities to release the 62-year-old Maryland man on humanitarian grounds.

In a speech to MPs, Mr Castro said his country would pardon 2,900 prisoners, including some convicted of political crimes. He cited an upcoming visit by Pope Benedict XVI among the reasons for the amnesty, saying the humanitarian act was “a demonstration of the generosity and strength of the revolution”.

He said diplomats would be notified shortly of the foreign prisoner releases.

The Cuban leader said the list was filled with inmates who, like Mr Gross, are over 60 or ailing. Others included in the amnesty are many women and young people who do not have long criminal records.

Those convicted of serious crimes like murder, espionage or drug trafficking are not part of the amnesty.

Mr Gross was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to 15 years in jail for crimes against the state. The case has frozen already icy relations between Washington and Havana.

His family admits he was on a USAID-funded democracy-building programme, but insists his goal was simply to help the island’s tiny Jewish community gain better access to the internet. They say he spoke almost no Spanish and came to Havana repeatedly.

Cuba says the USAID programmes seek to overthrow the government.