Three Cuban musicians who went missing in Brazil last week have asked for political asylum.

Members of the group Los Galanes, whose visas expired on Friday, presented a petition to immigration authorities in northeastern Pernambuco state.

In an interview, one of the musicians said he wanted to stay in the country because he loved Brazil and wanted to start a new group.

The refuge petition from the men will allow them to stay in Brazil until a judge hears their story.

The group was touring under the auspices of an official Cuban cultural exchange program when the three musicians disappeared from their guest house last week.

Other group members returned to Cuba.

In September, the Brazilian government granted asylum to two Cuban athletes who abandoned their team during the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.