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Barack Obama in Cuba at start of historic visit Barack Obama in Cuba at start of historic visit
(about 4 hours later)
President Barack Obama has arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader. President Barack Obama is in Cuba for a historic three-day visit to the island and talks with its communist leader.
He is the first sitting US president to visit since the 1959 revolution, which heralded decades of hostility. He is the first sitting US president to visit since the 1959 revolution, which heralded decades of hostility between the two countries.
Speaking at the reopened US embassy in Havana, he called the visit "historic". He also spent time in the old city. Speaking at the reopened US embassy in Havana, he called the visit "historic".
Mr Obama will meet President Raul Castro, but not retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and the pair will discuss trade and political reform.Mr Obama will meet President Raul Castro, but not retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and the pair will discuss trade and political reform.
The US president emerged smiling from Air Force One with First Lady Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia. 'Brighter future'
Holding umbrellas, the party walked in light drizzle along a red carpet to be greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. President Obama's visit is the high point of a recent easing of ties between the US and Cuba, which included the re-establishment of diplomatic missions last year.
Two hours after landing, Mr Obama greeted staff from the US embassy with the words: "It is wonderful to be here". Unsurprisingly, his first stop was the newly re-opened embassy.
"Back in 1928, President [Calvin] Coolidge came on a battleship. It took him three days to get here, it only took me three hours. For the first time ever, Air Force One has landed in Cuba and this is our very first stop." Mr Obama, who is the first sitting US president to visit Cuba in 88 years, told staff: "It is wonderful to be here."
He added the trip was a chance to for him to lay out a "vision for a future that is brighter than our past". "Back in 1928, President [Calvin] Coolidge came on a battleship. It took him three days to get here - it only took me three hours. For the first time ever, Air Force One has landed in Cuba and this is our very first stop."
The Obamas later began a walkabout in historic Old Havana. Later on Sunday, he toured Havana's old town with his family, huddling under umbrellas to shelter from a tropical storm before visiting the national cathedral.
The tour was meant to see them interacting with ordinary Cubans on the streets, but this part of the itinerary was marred by a tropical storm.
They huddled under umbrellas before visiting the national cathedral.
Six sticking points to better relations
A new DIY economy in Cuba
Fidel followers remain nervous of thaw
President Obama's visit is the highpoint of a recent easing of ties, which included the opening of embassies last year.
But only hours before his arrival, protesters calling for the release of political prisoners were arrested in the capital, Havana.
Police took away dozens of demonstrators from the Ladies in White group, formed of political prisoners' wives, from outside a church where they attempt to hold weekly protests.
At the scene: Jon Sopel, BBC North America editorAt the scene: Jon Sopel, BBC North America editor
Cuba is one of the most exotic places I have visited. The mix of crumbling but beautiful Spanish colonial, 1950s Americana, and 1970s Soviet utilitarian, all laced with plentiful mojito cocktails and the sound of salsa is beguiling. It's fabulous. Cuba is one of the most exotic places I have visited. The mix of crumbling but beautiful Spanish colonial, 1950s Americana, and 1970s Soviet utilitarian, all laced with plentiful mojito cocktails and the sound of salsa, is beguiling. It's fabulous.
I was here twice last year. The first time just after Presidents Obama and Castro announced their desire to open a new chapter in relations; the second when Secretary of State John Kerry flew in to re-open the US Embassy on the waterfront. I was here twice last year. The first time was just after Presidents Obama and Castro announced their desire to open a new chapter in relations; the second when Secretary of State John Kerry flew in to re-open the US embassy on the waterfront.
Now I am back for a third visit - and the cocktail that is Havana has a new ingredient. Well, two new ingredients actually. One is the smell of fresh paint. The other is shiny black tarmac on road surfaces where the potholes have been filled in.Now I am back for a third visit - and the cocktail that is Havana has a new ingredient. Well, two new ingredients actually. One is the smell of fresh paint. The other is shiny black tarmac on road surfaces where the potholes have been filled in.
Of course for security reasons, no one is saying precisely where the president will go when he's here, but here's my top tip as a highly trained investigative reporter. No. Don't follow the money. Follow the smell of fresh paint. And roads where the potholes have been filled in. That's where the president is going to be. For security reasons, no one is saying precisely where the president will go when he's here, but here's my top tip as a highly trained investigative reporter. The roads where the potholes have been filled in, that's where the president will be.
Win-win for US and CubaWin-win for US and Cuba
Correspondents say the visit - the first by a sitting US president for 88 years - marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations. Security was tight and the historic city centre looked uncharacteristically empty. One Cuban shouted: "Down with the embargo!"
President Obama responded by waving.
The 54-year-old US trade embargo is one of the main sticking points in US-Cuban relations.
It can only be lifted by the US Congress, which is controlled by Republicans who have expressed their opposition to its removal.
Six sticking points to better relations
A new DIY economy in Cuba
The other area of dispute is human rights.
The White House has insisted the president will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not.
Only hours before Mr Obama touched down, dozens of members of the dissident group Ladies in White were arrested during their weekly protest in Havana.
The group campaigns for the release of political prisoners. Mr Obama is likely to meet some of its members on Tuesday.
Despite disagreements, the visit marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations.
Mr Obama and Raul Castro will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade.Mr Obama and Raul Castro will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade.
The White House has made it clear President Obama will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not. That is expected to include members of the Ladies in White group. Since the two presidents announced a thaw in relation in December 2014, they have reached commercial deals on telecoms and a scheduled airline service, increased co-operation on law enforcement and environmental protection.
Economic sanctions
This visit does not mark a complete normalisation in relations, however.
The 54-year-old US economic embargo of Cuba is still in place and can only be lifted by a vote in Congress. Meanwhile, Cuba still complains about the occupation of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
Nevertheless enormous strides have already been taken, our correspondent says.
Mr Obama and Mr Castro agreed in December 2014 to end decades of frozen relations that began when Cuba's revolution overthrew a pro-US government.
Since 2014 there have been commercial deals on telecoms and a scheduled airline service, increased co-operation on law enforcement and environmental protection.
On Wednesday Mr Obama sent a letter on the first direct mail flight from the US to Cuba since the revolution.On Wednesday Mr Obama sent a letter on the first direct mail flight from the US to Cuba since the revolution.
And on Sunday, US hotel company Starwood become the first American firm to agree a deal with the Cuban authorities since 1959.
The media view, by Emilio San Pedro, BBC MonitoringThe media view, by Emilio San Pedro, BBC Monitoring
Bogota based-newspaper El Tiempo said Mr Obama put the "final nail on the coffin of the last legacy of the Cold War", but Cuban analyst Carlos Alberto Montaner said the president "miscalculated the wasps' nest he was getting into" by doing so. Prominent Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez wrote that Mr Obama's arrival on the first day of Holy Week means "he is awaited by the glory of his popularity and the cross of excessive expectations".
Prominent Havana based blogger Yoani Sanchez wrote that Mr Obama's arrival on the first day of Holy Week means "he is awaited by the glory of his popularity and the cross of excessive expectations". Colombian newspaper Tiempo said Mr Obama put the "final nail on the coffin of the last legacy of the Cold War", but Cuban analyst Carlos Alberto Montaner said the president "miscalculated the wasps' nest he was getting into".
On the legacy of the visit, Lima-based magazine Correo said Mr Obama must work to "make sure his progress on Cuba cannot be reversed". Peruvian magazine Correo said Mr Obama must work to "make sure his progress on Cuba cannot be reversed".
Mexico City-based El Universal said "the 'comandante' [Fidel Castro] will go down in history as the person who fought the US to defend the revolution. The General [Raul Castro] will go down as the one who made peace". Mexican daily El Universal said "the 'comandante' [Fidel Castro] will go down in history as the person who fought the US to defend the revolution. The General [Raul Castro] will go down as the one who made peace".
Although the US president is not scheduled to meet Fidel Castro, Cubans were reminded of their former veteran leader on Sunday as newspapers published pictures of him meeting Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. However, analysts say there are conflicting sentiments within Cuba's Communist Party over hosting Mr Obama.
Analysts suggested the release of the pictures underlines conflicting sentiments within the Communist Party over hosting Mr Obama. Fidel followers remain nervous of thaw
He is not scheduled to meet the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro.
The elder Castro has only made one official statement about the thaw in relations, and it was hardly a ringing endorsement: "I don't trust in the United States' policy, nor have I exchanged a word with them".
Thaw in US-Cuba relations:Thaw in US-Cuba relations: