Washington - US President Barack Obama planned to ease travel and other restrictions to Cuba later Monday, allowing Cuban Americans to return home for longer periods in a reversal of former president George W Bush's policies, US media reported. The new policy was due to be revealed ahead of Obama's trip this week to a summit of North and South American leaders in Trinidad and Tobago, the Washington Post reported. The White House would not confirm the plans.

Obama has not pushed for lifting the decades-old trade embargo against Cuba, but has signalled that he wants to improve ties with the Communist island.

The much-anticipated announcement Monday would allow Cuba- Americans to visit relatives on the Caribbean island once a year and remain as long as they wish, as well as allowing them to send more money back home, the Washington Post reported.

The 2004 restrictions imposed by Bush limited visits to once every three years, for no more than two weeks, and excluded extended family, such as aunts, uncles and cousins.

Those restrictions were lifted temporarily last month by the US Congress, which cut off all funding for enforcing the travel limits until September.(dpa)