WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A coalition of U.S.
business, academic and other groups have urged President Barack
Obama to respond to Cuba's recent release of political
prisoners by reversing remaining travel restrictions imposed by
former President George W. Bush.

"Mr. President, this is an important moment. We ask you to
take bold steps to reverse decades of counterproductive
policies toward Cuba, and we pledge our support," the groups
said in a letter to Obama on Monday.

The groups sending the letter included the National Foreign
Trade Council, the National Tour Association, the American
Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Center for
Democracy in the Americas and the Washington Office on Latin
America.

Cuba has promised to free 52 jailed dissidents as the
result of a new dialogue between the Cuban government and the
Catholic Church, which began in earnest in May.

By the end of July, 20 of the promised 52 prisoners had
been released through the mediation of the church, which said
the process could take four months.

Cuba's largest release of political prisoners since 1998
has been viewed internationally as a possible turning point for
the communist-run island.

Obama, during his first year in office, reversed some
restrictions imposed by Bush to punish Cuba for the arrests of
the prisoners now being released.

That action has allowed Americans with relatives in Cuba to
send them unlimited cash and visit the island as long and as
often as they would like.

"You have indicated that further steps would be possible in
response to positive actions by Cuba, specifically including
the release of political prisoners," the groups said in their
letter to Obama.

"Now that such action is being taken, it is essential that
you respond, at a minimum, by removing the remaining
restrictions that were imposed by President Bush," they said.

The groups urged Obama to reverse Bush's restrictions on
academic and people-to-people exchanges, and make the
additional reform of allowing eligible persons to travel to
Cuba under a general license.

They also urged Obama to throw his support behind efforts
in Congress to lift the ban on travel to Cuba.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Bill Trott)