Trial of Jewish contractor Alan Gross begins in Cuba

The U.S. businessman stands accused of illegally bringing communications equipment into Cuba aimed at overthrowing the government of President Raul Castro.

The trial of a U.S. government contractor detained more than a year on charges he sought to undermine Cuba's government enters its second day Saturday in a case that has worsened relations between the longtime enemies. Alan Gross, who was arrested in December 2009, stands accused of illegally bringing communications equipment into Cuba for Development Associates International as part of a USAID-backed democracy program.

Cuba says the programs are aimed at overthrowing the government of President Raul Castro. U.S. officials and Gross' family insist he has done nothing wrong, and say he should be freed on humanitarian grounds in any case. Gross faces 20 years in jail if convicted.The trial began Friday with about nine hours of testimony in a courtroom in a converted mansion in a once-prosperous neighborhood of Havana.

The proceedings were closed to journalists.Cuba's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying the trial would reconvene Saturday and indicated the proceedings could finish that day after presentation of further evidence and final statements from the prosecution and defense.Sentencing, should Gross be convicted, would likely come in about two weeks.In describing Friday's session, the Foreign Ministry said Gross made a statement and answered questions of the prosecution, defense and court. It said other witnesses and experts also testified. It gave no specifics. Gross' family and U.S. officials have said he was bringing communications equipment to Cuba's 1,500-strong Jewish community. Cuban Jewish groups denied having anything to do with him.

In Washington on Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. government called on Cuba to release Gross and allow the 61-year-old Maryland native leave Cuba unconditionally. "He has been unjustly jailed for far too long," she said.