Sides Voice Different Views On Elian Removal

(Washington-AP) -- The force that was used to take Elian Gonzalez from his Miami relatives Saturday is the fault of that family, not the fault of U-S officials. That's the view expressed Sunday by

Sunday, April 23rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Washington-AP) -- The force that was used to take Elian Gonzalez from his Miami relatives Saturday is the fault of that family, not the fault of U-S officials. That's the view expressed Sunday by Eric Holder, deputy U-S Attorney General.

He told ABC that if the family had been willing to yield any ground during negotiations with the government, the transfer could have been carried out peacefully. But he says there was never any indication that the family would cooperate.

But a lawyer for the Florida family says it was an "outrageous betrayal" of Elian Gonzalez. Kendall Coffey calls it a "paramilitary attack" that took place. Coffey says the family offered no resistance, and made it clear that they wouldn't interfere.