Brussels - The European Union's top justice official Wednesday welcomed US President Barack Obama's decision to temporarily suspend prosecutions at the US's controversial Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.

"I am extremely pleased that one of the first actions of President Obama has been to turn the page on this sad episode of the Guantanamo prison," said EU Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Jacques Barrot.

Havana - Cuban President Raul Castro received Argentina President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the first such meeting between the heads of state of both countries since 1986. The four-star general accorded Fernandez military honours in the Palace of the Revolution before the two witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements on science, technology, energy and food.

Fernandez visited the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Centre outside Havana which produced vaccines, some of which are sold in Argentina.

Havana - A procession of Latin American leaders has taken over Havana in recent days, sending a signal to Washington about new- found solidarity for Cuba within the region.

With the inauguration of Barack Obama as US president looming on Tuesday, Cuba is flaunting proof that the communist island - far from isolated - has the support of Latin America.

Havana - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa ended Saturday a three-day visit to Cuba during which he argued for an end to the US economic embargo on the communist country and hopes for better ties with the forthcoming presidency of Barack Obama.

The leftist-oriented Correa had met with Cuban President Raul Castro during a visit which observers saw as part of Havana's effort to demonstrate to Obama that Cuba is no longer isolated in the Latin American community.

Prior to Correa, Panamanian President Martin Torrijos had visited Cuba, while Chilean President Michel Bachelet is due to visit in February.

Havana  -

Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro expressed confidence in building stronger ties with Iran, after a meeting with a special envoy of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, local media reported Thursday.

Iranian Industry and Mining Minister Ali Akbar Mezharabian met Castro late Wednesday and delivered a message from Ahmadinejad for the Cuban president and his brother Fidel, Cuban Communist Party daily Granma reported.