Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon dismissed President Barack Obama’s recent overtures to Cuba and said for the first time that the new US administration’s stance is “the continuation of an illegal, unjustifiable and failed policy”.

Acting Cuban President Raul Castro said his ailing brother Fidel is getting better, performing exercises and is still consulted on all important governmental issues.

CUBAN officials said yesterday that the country had set in motion a ‘peaceful succession’ — the first time words hinting at a permanent handover of power were used.