ATTORNEY FOR ELIAN GONZALEZ RELATIVES AT NEWS CONFERENCE, 1999-11-25 (photo)

As Lazaro Gonzalez, great uncle of Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez looks on (L), Spencer Eig, attorney for the Gonzalez family speaks to the media January 19 in front of the U.S. federal courthouse in Miami. The relatives of Elian filed a federal lawsuit to force the U.S. government to hold a hearing to decide whether the 6-year-old should be sent back to his father in Cuba or remain with relatives in the U.S.. The boy's family in Miami and his father in Cuba have been fighting for custody since he was picked up at sea November 25, 1999 after clinging to an innertube for two days. Elian's mother and 10 others died when their boat sank as they attempted to reach the United States. CB/JP