HAVANA – Cuba is commemorating the 60th anniversary of Fidel Castro's failed attack on the Moncada army barracks that is considered the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
President Raul Castro is expected to give a speech at Friday's ceremony in the eastern city of Santiago.
The July 26 holiday is sometimes used to make major announcements.
Raul Castro is in the midst of pushing a series of social and economic reforms including relaxed restriction on foreign travel and a limited opening for small private and cooperative enterprise on the island.
Several heads of state from friendly nations are in Cuba for the anniversary including Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Bolivia's Evo Morales, Uruguay's Jose Mujica and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega.