U.S. Priest Kidnaped in Beirut

An American Roman Catholic priest was kidnaped by gunmen Tuesday as he was being driven to work on a crowded street in predominantly Muslim West Beirut.

Police officers identified him as Father Lawrence M. Jenco, 50, of Chicago. He is program director in Lebanon for Catholic Relief Services, a charity of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.

According to the police and witnesses, Jenco and his driver were seized at 7:30 a.m. after his car was boxed in by two others on a side street near the American University of Beirut. The driver was forced into the trunk of the car, which was later abandoned. He reported the kidnaping to police.

A spokeswoman for Catholic Relief Services said Jenco had undergone a medical examination on Monday and had been diagnosed as having a heart condition.

The relief organization has been concentrating on the reconstruction of Lebanon after 10 years of civil strife. About half of its budget comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

No group came forth immediately to take responsibility for the abduction. Over the last year, four other Americans have disappeared in West Beirut in suspected kidnapings.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Claude Cuenot, 46, the deputy commander of the 68 French truce observers in Beirut, was found shot to death. The privately owned Central News Agency said robbery may have been the motive, because Cuenot’s briefcase and money were taken.