Russian warships dock in Havana

HAVANA, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Three Russian warships were docked at Havana Bay Saturday, marking the Russian navy's first visit to Cuba since the end of the Cold War, officials said.

The destroyer Admiral Chabanenko fired a 21-salvo salute and Cuban coastal artillery returned the salute with symbolic fire of its own Friday, RIA Novosti reported. The Chabanenko and two support craft are to stay in Havana until Tuesday, completing a Caribbean tour by Russian navy ships that included stops in Venezuela, Panama and Nicaragua.

Russian navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said the group's commanders would meet with Cuban navy officials, the mayor of Havana and Russian embassy staff, while Russian sailors were to lay wreaths at a monument to Cuban national hero Jose Marti and the Soviet Internationalist Soldier Memorial, the news agency said.

Another Russian navy northern fleet task force started a visit to Lisbon Friday, after which it will sail through the Strait of Gibraltar and visit several ports in the Mediterranean, officials said.