3 More Hostages Free; U.S. Assails Piecemeal Release : 2 Americans and Greek Singer Out

Shia Muslim militia leader Nabih Berri today freed a Greek singer and two Americans held captive in the five-day-old TWA hijacking. The Reagan Administration welcomed the gesture but complained that liberating captives a few at a time amounted to “uncivilized behavior in its worst form.”

In releasing the three, Berri said the remaining 41 hostages could be freed “in 24 hours” if the United States would ask Israel to release up to 800 Lebanese Shias held inside its border. Israel has said it will do so if asked by Washington.

But White House spokesman Larry Speakes said today that the hostages’ continued captivity in Beirut is the chief impediment blocking Israel’s plan--which predated the hijacking--to release the prisoners in stages.

Total Release Preferred

He added that the United States would favor freeing all the Shia prisoners at once after the hijacking ordeal is over.

“We welcome (today’s) release,” Speakes said. “On the other hand, we believe that piecemeal exploitation of the captivity of innocent people heightens the anguish of those who are victims and the anxiety of their loved ones.

“This is uncivilized behavior in its worst form.”

President Reagan’s national security adviser, Robert C. McFarlane, was asked earlier if he foresees the episode dragging on for some time.

“I’m afraid that’s right,” he replied.

As a good-will gesture, Berri freed Greek singer Demis Roussos, who holds dual Greek and American citizenship; Roussos’ American secretary, Pamela Smith, and Arthur Targontsidis, an 18-year-old Greek-American from Brockton, Mass., who had been studying at American University in Athens, where the hijacking began.

‘These Good People’

Roussos, smiling and occasionally patting Berri on the shoulder, referred to the Shia militiamen at a news conference in Berri’s home as “these good people” and said he sang for his captors.

“They asked me to sing and I didn’t see why I shouldn’t,” Roussos said. “It was my 40th birthday on Saturday and why shouldn’t I sing for them? I’d like to come back and sing for peace.”

Smith, whom the Shia militiamen referred to as Roussos’ wife, praised the hijackers--who shot and killed an American Saturday --for their manners.

Israel’s respected Haaretz newspaper said Shia, U.S. and other officials discussed a compromise giving the hostages to the Red Cross in exchange for Israel’s commitment to free its prisoners “within a short time.”

Political Role Rejected

But the Red Cross said from its headquarters in Geneva that while it is prepared to organize any exchange of hostages for Arab prisoners, it will not take on a political role.

The hijackers have demanded the prisoner release since commandeering Flight 847 Friday en route from Athens to Rome and forcing it to shuttle between Algiers and Beirut before landing in the Lebanese capital for a third and final time Sunday.

Berri announced Monday that he was backing the hijackers’ demands and had taken responsibility for all the hostages--including between six and 12 with Jewish-sounding names taken off the plane Friday night as well as about 30 others taken off Monday.

Berri said all the hostages were off the plane and they were believed to be dispersed in small groups in West Beirut.

But TWA officials said one or two members of the three-man crew appeared to be still on board the aircraft with several hijackers.

Berri assured reporters the rest of the hostages were in good condition and were being well cared for.

“I check their menus. . . . I check what they eat, where they sleep,” he said.