Cuba tones down anti-U.S. rhetoric on revolution's main holiday

A guard stands in front of the new Cuban embassy in Washington after officials raised the national flag in a ceremony, July 20, 2015. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

SANTIAGO, Cuba (Reuters) - Cuban leaders pledged to keep socialism alive but toned down the anti-U.S. rhetoric at Cuba's first national holiday since re-establishing diplomatic relations with the United States on July 20.

Sunday marked the 62nd anniversary of the first offensive by Fidel Castro's guerrillas against the army of U.S.-backed leader Fulgencio Batista in 1953, starting a rebellion that brought down Batista more than five years later.