Cuba's Castro marks revolution anniversary

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Cuban President Raul Castro paid homage to Cuba's independence hero Jose Marti by placing a flower wreath at his mausoleum in Santiago de Cuba on Thursday (January 1) as Cuba celebrates the 56th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

This year's celebrations, however, were taking place against the backdrop of the historic resumption of diplomatic ties of Cuba - U.S. relations announced on December 17.

Cuban flags waved at the mausoleum, two weeks after the United States and Cuba announced that diplomatic ties with Washington severed more than 50 years ago would be restored.

Castro also laid a wreath for independence war veterans, the fallen on the attack to the Moncada barracks and international fighters.

He also laid flowers at the tomb of his wife, Vilma Espin, one of the most powerful women in Cuba's political leadership, who died in 2007 in Havana at the age of 77, and on the niche of famed Spanish Flamenco dancer and ch