HMS Manchester enters Havana

7:55PM GMT 15 Nov 2010

With its colours flying and bright red Sea Dart missiles poised on deck, the destroyer HMS Manchester pulled into port opposite Old Havana, the historic centre of the Cuban capital, at the start of a five-day visit to the Communist-led island.

The ship's officers were to meet with their Cuban counterparts to discuss collaboration on counter-drug and disaster relief operations in the Caribbean region.

The last time a British warship stopped at the island was in 1957 when the frigate HMS Bigbury Bay visited Havana.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

British Royal Navy HMS Manchester Type 42 Destroyer enters Havana's bay beside colonial-era Morro Cabana fortress November 15, 2010. The visit is the first by a British Royal Navy warship to Cuba since pre-revolution days in 1957, and is aimed at strengthening cooperation in anti-narcotics operations and rapid disaster relief coordination between the two countries. Credit: Reuters/Desmond Boylan

(Reuters) - The first British warship to visit Cuba since before the 1959 revolution sailed into Havana Bay on Monday, where it was greeted by a Cuban Navy band playing "God Save the Queen."

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JG: Because of the recent 187-2 condemnation by the United Nations General Assembly of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, peace loving nations are establishing bonds of friendship and cooperation with Cuba. The U.S. is totally isolated as it pursues and promotes war-mongering acts.