The May Day parade by hundreds of thousands of Cubans at the Revolution Square in this capital was characterized this year by new elements, including digital screens and a band with some 100 members of musical groups.

There were also people carrying blue, white and red, as the digital screens displayed images and slogans supporting the construction in this country of a prosperous and sustainable development.

The Chinese trumpet, a traditional instrument in Cuban conga, also set the pace of the march, with participants waving to salute Cuban President Raul Castro and other government officials accompanying him at the tribune near the statue of National Hero Jose Marti.

For over an hour of march, the compact crowd also carried banners demanding the end of the US economic and financial blockade and the devolution of the illegally-occupied territory of the US naval base in Guantanamo.

This year the main slogan was "For Cuba: Unity and Commitment".

Cuban educators were the first to march in recognition to their work during the Literacy Campaign, on occasion of its 55th anniversary.