MOSCOW, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday Cuban shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez, caught in a tug-of-war between Havana and U.S.-based Cuban groups, should be returned to his father in Cuba.

``The child's fate should not be made a pretext for a political game by the United States,'' Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement after an official visit to Moscow by Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.

The statement said: ``We support Cuba's efforts to have the six-year old boy Elian Gonzalez returned to his father,''

Elian has been at the centre of a politically charged custody battle since he was found drifting off the Florida coast two months ago after a boat carrying 14 people fleeing Cuba capsized. The boy's mother and 10 others died.

Cuba has sought international support for its bid to return Elian to his father in Cuba while the boy's Miami-based relatives have filed a suit to keep him in the United States.

06:37 01-28-00

Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited

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