Reuters
United States congressman Jeff Flake, in Havana, Cuba, yesterday with other U.S. legislators.

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters):

Leading advocates of easing sanctions against Cuba in the United States Congress arrived in Havana yesterday.

While there, they are set to assess the situation since ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro ceded power to his brother Raul in July.

The largest Congressional delegation to visit Communist-run Cuba had asked to meet with acting president Raul Castro, who two weeks ago said he was open to talks with Washington.

The Bush administration, which opposes a "dynastic succession" from one Castro brother to the other, has rejected talks in the absence of democratic reform to Cuba's one-party state.

Cuba watchers said a meeting between the legislators and Raul Castro could mark a turning point in a hostile relationship that dates back to the start of the Cold War.

The three-day visit by 10 Republican and Democratic representatives comes amid heightened speculation that Fidel Castro, 80 and in power since 1959, is close to death.

"They are interested in talking to Cuban officials about the economic and political situation since the hand-over of power on July 31," said a source in the delegation.

The delegation is headed by Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona, and William Delahunt, a Democrat from Massachusetts, who have said they will work to relax a ban on travel and a cap on family remittances to Cuba in Congress next year.

They favour engagement and trade with Cuba rather than sanctions as the best U.S. policy to foster change on the sland.