US President Obama reaches Cuba on a 3-day visit

US President Barack Obama has reached Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader. He has became the first US president in 88 years to visit Cuba.

The trip is aimed at ending decades of Cold War animosity. Mr Obama will meet President Raul Castro on Monday and they will discuss trade and political reforms. Just after landing at Havana last night, Obama tweeted that he is looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people.

Moments later, a smiling Obama emerged from Air Force One with his wife First Lady Michelle and their two daughters, clutching umbrellas to shield themselves from a warm afternoon rain shower. He was greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Two hours after landing, Mr Obama greeted



staff from the reopened US embassy, calling his trip a historic visit and a historic opportunity.

Obama is not only the first sitting US president to visit Cuba since Fidel Castro's guerrillas overthrew the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista in 1959, but the first since President Calvin Coolidge in 1928. For Cubans dreaming of escaping isolation and reinvigorating their threadbare economy, the visit has created huge excitement.

Meanwhile, Havana Police has arrested dozens of people from a banned group demanding greater human rights.

Republicans and some human rights activists have criticised Obama for dealing with Castro, given the lack of political, media and economic freedom in a country where the Communist Party retains tight control.