CUBA/

Raul Castro (front R), head of Cuba's army and brother of Cuban President Fidel Castro, attends a meeting of Cuba's National Assembly while sitting next to his brother's empty chair 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/Enrique De La Osa (CUBA)