US, Cuba restore ties, open embassies after 54 years

Workers at the US Department of State adding the Cuban flag to the display of flags inside the main entrance at 202 "C" Street at 4am local time (0800 GMT) in Washington, DC on July 20, 2015.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2015 (AFP) - The Cuban flag was raised at the US State Department Monday, in a historic gesture to mark renewed diplomatic ties between Havana and Washington as embassies were reestablished in their respective capitals.

Diplomatic relations officially resumed at the stroke of midnight and the Cuban banner was hoisted a few hours later, in a move toward burying decades of enmity between the Cold War foes seeking to normalize relations.