Mexico hosts Cuban president for Independence Day

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador celebrated his country's 210th Independence Day on Thursday alongside special guest Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel.

After the pomp and circumstance of the military parade in Mexico's City main square, López Obrador "respectfully" called on the United States to end the embargo on Cuba.

The occasion marks Diaz-Canel's first trip abroad since the July protests in the island nation and the harsh government response to silence them.

"The decision to invite us has an immeasurably greater value at a time when we are suffering the onslaught of a multidimensional war," the Cuban president stated, speaking after the parade.

Mexico City shopkeeper Victor Carabez disagreed with Lopez Obrador's decision to invite his counterpart to participate in something he believed should be solely for Mexicans.

The celebration of Mexican independence from Spain comes just prior to the VI Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), to be held this weekend.

Seventeen heads of state will attend the regional summit in which the United States does not participate.

IMAGE: AP