Cuban lawmakers approve restoring ties with U.S.

HAVANA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua/Sun) -- Cuba's parliament on Friday unanimously approved a government decision to restore diplomatic relations with the United States, a longtime foe.

More than 600 deputies of the National Assembly of People's Power voted for the bill, in sharp contrast with the backlash from conservative U.S. legislators to such a decision by President Barack Obama.

Cuban leader Raul Castro and Obama announced Wednesday that they had agreed to restore diplomatic ties between their countries and mark the decision with a humanitarian exchange of long-detained prisoners.