Cuba marks Revolution Day with march

Castro leads Thursday's march

By Lucia Newman
CNN Havana Bureau Chief

HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro led a march Thursday morning commemorating the start of the Cuban Revolution 48 years ago. Cuban officials said as many as 1.2 million people -- about one-tenth of the island's population -- were expected to participate in the observance.

Castro was flanked by the two grandsons of Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini and top members of the Cabinet and the communist party, as he joined a throng of marchers waving Cuban flags and other large banners.

The observance is traditionally celebrated with a speech by Castro, but no speeches were planned this year.

VIDEO Cubans marched through the streets of Havana to commemorate Fidel Castro's rise to power. CNN's Lucia Newman reports (July 26) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   RESOURCES Message Board: U.S. - Cuba relations

The procession was working its way down the Malecon, the city's famous waterside drive, and past the U.S. diplomatic mission.

Buses began arriving in the capital at 1 a.m. Thursday, shuttling thousands of people in for the march.

The Cuban Revolution has its roots in the July 26, 1953, attack on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago by Castro's forces. The anniversary is a major event in Cuba's revolutionary calendar.