The US and Cuban presidents have arrived in Panama for a historic summit that could see the pair meet face to face.

They arrived as news broke that the US is poised to remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The move would be a huge breakthrough in relations between the two countries.

It would pave the way for the re-opening of embassies whose doors have been shut for 54 years.

Obama's attending a summit where he could come face to face with Cuban leader Raul Castro.

In a sign of further progress the two sides revealed US Secretary of State John Kerry and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez have met behind closed doors.

It's the first time the two nations' chief diplomats have met since the early days of the Cuban revolution more than half a century ago.

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