Raul Castro calls on Obama to dismantle Cuba embargo

Cuban President Raul Castro has asked his US counterpart Barack Obama to use his executive powers to “dismantle” the economic embargo placed on his island nation.

Castro called the embargo, in place since 1962, the main stumbling block towards “normalisation” between the two nations. However, only Congress has the authority to lift the measure and its Republican majority has declined Obama’s calls to repeal it.Castro’s comments came ahead of the formal reestablishment of diplomatic relations and the opening of embassies between the two countries on Monday. The move will allow for a higher level of dialogue, but is the first step in a complex process, with one of the biggest hurdles ahead involving ending the US trade.