Castro Announces Imminent Departure of Elian's Father

Cuba Waits Elian

Cuban President Fidel Castro announced Wednesday that Juan Miguel Gonzalez, father of Cuban castaway Elian Gonzalez, will leave Cuba for Washington with his wife and child at 4 a.m. (0800 GMT) Thursday.

"I, for one, am going to see him off," said Castro.

Fernando Remirez de Estenoz, chief of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, will accompany Gonzalez, his wife and child, Castro said.

He said Gonzalez was traveling with his family so that no one in Miami would say "hostages remain in Cuba."

"I'll see what kind of slander they come up with now," he said.