BY TERRY JACKSON

 In the second segment of ABC's exclusive interview with Elian Gonzalez
 Tuesday, Good Morning America's Diane Sawyer declined to deliver
 Elian's own words on whether he wants to go back to Cuba.

 Sawyer reported that Elian told her and Dr. Gunther Perdigao, the child
 psychologist hired by ABC, that he didn't want to return to Cuba, but the
 network withheld tape of Elian saying that in his own words.

 Sawyer told viewers: ``As we said before, the relatives in Miami say Elian
 repeatedly insists he does not want to go back to Cuba. He told us that, too,
 but in this inflamed climate, on this inflamed subject, we thought it best not to
 broadcast the exact words of a 6-year-old child.''

 An ABC spokeswoman would not comment further on exactly what Elian said
 or elaborate on why GMA decided to not air Elian's words.

 Segments from Sawyer's two-day interview with Elian last week in Miami are
 scheduled to be a part of tonight's 20/20 newsmagazine, which airs at 10 on
 WPLG-ABC 10. ABC would not comment Tuesday on whether the 20/20
 report would contain any new material from the Elian interview.

 Sawyer and ABC continued to come under fire from Fidel Castro and Gregory
 Craig, the U.S. lawyer for Elian's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez.

 Castro said Monday in Havana that Sawyer and a Good Morning America
 producer were in Cuba last week and made no mention of their intention to
 interview Elian without his father's permission.

 ``Here, they didn't say a word to anyone about the program, and suddenly we
 learn about the program,'' Castro said.

 Before the interview aired, National Assembly president Ricardo Alarcon sent a
 letter to ABC producer Carol Marquis, denouncing ABC's decision to not speak
 with Elian's father.

 ``As you surely know, there are legal and moral standards in the United States
 and the rest of the world that protect the father-son relationship and the rights of
 minors,'' Alarcon wrote.

 On Tuesday's show, Craig sparred with Sawyer over the same issue.

 ``We do regret and are disappointed that you didn't consult with the father, didn't
 ask permission,'' Craig said.

 The Justice Department also took issue with Sawyer's report, which has intimated
 that no one is being sensitive to Elian.

 The department sent a letter Tuesday that said the U.S. government has from the
 start been mindful that a 6-year-old is at the heart of the situation. ``We are
 concerned for him and will continue to try to resolve this matter in a way that
 avoids additional trauma to him,'' the letter said.

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald