CUBA/

Raul Castro, head of Cuba's army and brother of Cuban President Fidel Castro, looks up while sitting next to his brother's empty chair during a meeting of the National Assembly in Havana December 22, 2006. Cuba's National Assembly began its year-end session on Friday without ailing leader Fidel Castro, who was last seen in public on July 26. REUTERS/Claudia Daut (CUBA)