Bells tolled in celebration and teachers halted lessons midday as President Raul Castro told his country that Cuba was restoring relations with the U.S. after more than a half-century of hostility. Wearing his military uniform with its five-star insignia, the 83-year-old leader said the two countries would work to resolve their differences 'without renouncing a single one of our principles.' Havana residents gathered around television sets in homes, schools and businesses to hear the historic national broadcast, which coincided with a statement by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. Scroll down for video A group of Cuban students march through the capital of Havana to celebrate the easing of political tensions
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Cubans take to the streets to celebrate the restoration of relations with U.S.
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Residents were glued to television sets to watch the announcement
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Many Cuban locals believe it signals the start of a better standard of living
'In this way, the @placeholder regime has managed to get its way,' she wrote in a blog post.