41.   Three Cuban doctors have requested political asylum in Venezuela in the past two weeks.

42.   Two Cuban doctors defected recently while on an international mission in Zimbabwe.

43.   Venezuela on Wednesday rejected a request from two Cuban doctors for political asylum but said it will allow them to remain in the country temporarily.

44.   Two Cuban doctors said Tuesday that they were subjected to grueling conditions when they were jailed for more than a month in Zimbabwe after declaring their intention to defect.

45.   In some rural areas, Cuban doctors are given houses with neither electricity nor running water.

46.   Baghdad radio said the Cuban doctors arrived a few days ago in Baghdad.

47.   But despite the problems, the Cuban doctors said that in South Africa they earned more than they would in Cuba.

48.   Zambian doctors had protested the decision by government to bring in Cuban doctors, complaining that expatriate medical personnel were paid more than locals.

49.   On Saturday, Robaina will meet representatives of the Cuban doctors working in South Africa.

50.   The Cuban doctors have been selected on the basis of their medical abilities and their command of English, Zuma told the SAPA news agency.