Officials have said that the death of a political prisoner and the jailing of a U. S. citizen in Cuba appear to have derailed attempts to repair U. S./Cuba relations.

According to the reports of ElNuevoHerald. com a prisoner, Orlando Zapata died Feb. 23 following a hunger strike to protest prison conditions and U. S. government contractor Alan P. Gross was arrested Dec. 3 by Cuban officials. The two incidents have stood in the way of Spanish government efforts to act as ombudsman in reconciling the United States and Cuba.

Gross, who has not been formally charged, is being detained for allegedly delivering satellite communications equipment to Jewish groups. His detention is being seen in Washington as a blow to easing sanctions on Cuba, said a senior staffer to a U. S. senator who favors lifting travel restrictions.

The staffer further said "The tipping point on Cuba is the Gross issue. It's a hot potato. As bad as the Zapata case is, the Gross issue is the one that has a greater reach here.'' (With Inputs from Agencies)