Washington/Havana, Safar 25, 1436, Dec 17, 2014, SPA -- The United States and Cuba have agreed to restore diplomatic relations after more than five decades and plan to open embassies in each other's capitals as soon as possible, leaders of both countries announced Wednesday. Proclaiming the breakthrough, US President Barack Obama said that a50-year policy of isolating Cuba had failed to bring political change on the communist island. Obama said the Cold War-era policy no longer serves the best interests of either the US or Cuba, and he called for more engagement between the two nations. Cuban President Raul Castro praised Obama's decision. --SPA 22:36 LOCAL TIME 19:36 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w