Grandmothers of Elian Gonzalez coming to U.S., church official says

HAVANA (AP) -- The grandmothers of Elian Gonzalez were flying to New York today along with a U.S. church group to press for the 6-year-old boy's return to Cuba, a church leader said.

The women are taking the trip to ''make an appeal to the American people,'' said Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches.

The announcement came after the church delegation met with the boy's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, at a hotel in the Cuban capital.

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba issued visas to Elian's grandmothers on Thursday, and there had been speculation they would head to the United States with the church delegation.

Elian's paternal grandmother, Mariela Quintana, has said she would go to the United States only if she could bring him back with her.

In Miami, Elian's great-uncle Delfin Gonzalez said the family has no plans to allow Elian to go to New York to meet his grandmothers, but said they were welcome to come to Miami.

''We were waiting for them,'' Gonzalez said.