WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 8: The United States has said it would contact the father of a six-year-old Cuban boy to explain his parental rights in a custody battle that has touched off the worst anti-American protests in Cuba in years.State Department spokesman James Foley issued a statement on Tuesday, the third day of escalating protests on the communist-run island, saying that US regulations recognised the right of a parent to assert custody rights in an immigration proceeding.``We are committed to working with the family of Elian Gonzalez, including the father, and all relevant officials, to achieve an appropriate resolution to this case,'' Foley said.He said the regulations of the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) ``recognise the right of a parent to assert parental interests in an immigration proceeding.''``INS officials would contact the boy's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, in the near future to explain the process by which it will evaluate his rights in this case,'' Foley said.But he again rejected Cuba's ultimatum for the return of the boy, who spent two days clinging to an inner tube in waters between Cuba and Florida after a small craft carrying his mother and others capsized trying to reach the US shore, killing all but three. The boy's mother and stepfather were among 11 people who died when the boat capsized last week.
