Elian Gonzalez joins young communists

HAVANA, June 16 (UPI) -- Elian Gonzalez, whose Miami relatives lost a battle to keep him in the United States, has joined Cuba's Young Communist Union, a Cuban newspaper says.

The Communist youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde quotes the 14-year-old as saying he will never let down leaders Fidel and Raul Castro, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday.

Elian was 6 years old in 2000 when he survived a boat accident off the Florida coast that killed his mother who was attempting to get to the United States.

Miami relatives sought to keep the boy but the U.S. officials ruled he should be returned to his father in Cuba.