Two French Hostages in Lebanon Reportedly Freed

Reports from Syria early today indicated that Lebanese Shia Muslim extremists have released two French hostages and sent them on their way to the French Embassy in Damascus.

These news reports, which could not be confirmed, came as French officials and the public waited anxiously for a release that had been promised many hours earlier.

Freedom for the two hostages on Armistice Day, one of France’s most solemn holidays, would probably be cited by Premier Jacques Chirac as a vindication of his controversial policy of repairing relations with both Iran and Syria. This policy has aroused a good deal of scorn by critics because of the widespread belief in France that Syria had a hand in the wave of bombings that terrorized Paris two months ago.

The kidnapers, in a communique, said they would release the hostages “as a result of the promises given by the French government on the demands that it very well knows.” There was no elaboration.

At about the same time, Iran, which is believed to have strong influence on the Shia Muslim extremists in Beirut, announced that France had honored Tehran’s conditions for better relations. Tehran radio said that closer relations with France, which recently reached agreement with Iran on settlement of French repayment of a $1 billion loan made by the deposed Shah of Iran, were possible even though France has supported Iraq, the bitter enemy of Iran in the Persian Gulf War.

The reports from Syria identified the two released hostages as French businessmen Camille Sontag, an 85-year-old retired auto dealer who was kidnaped last May while strolling with his wife on a boulevard in West Beirut, and Marcel Coudari, 54, who disappeared last February.

Syrian sources were quoted as saying that a third, unnamed French hostage may be released soon.

In all, Shia Muslim extremists, part of several shadowy organizations with confusing demands, hold seven French hostages in Lebanon. Two others, members of a television crew, were released last June.

The extremist kidnapers also hold five Americans and five other foreigners. Three Americans have been released, including 55-year-old David P. Jacobsen, who was freed last week by the organization that calls itself Islamic Jihad (Islamic Holy War).

Throughout Monday night, French television newscasts had informed the public that the release of two, perhaps three hostages, was imminent. Their captors, a group calling itself the Revolutionary Justice Organization, had issued two communiques announcing that the hostages would be released as a good-will gesture toward France made possible by mediators from Syria and Algeria.

No Sign of a Release

The second communique said that the release would be made at 7:30 p.m., Beirut time, in the Beau Rivage Hotel in Muslim West Beirut. A French diplomat, Guy Letrange, arrived with bodyguards in a bullet-proof car. So did a group of journalists. But hours went by with no sign of a release.

Nearby, however, are the headquarters of Syrian army officers, who often use the hotel. Brigadier Ghazi Kanaan, the chief of Syrian military intelligence, often stays there.

As a result, it was easy to speculate that the release could have been made to the Syrian military.

Shortly before midnight, anonymous callers claiming to represent the Revolutionary Justice Organization told two Beirut newspapers that the hostages had been released. Asked to identify the hostages, one caller said, “You will know tomorrow. Go take their pictures in Damascus.”

All the anticipation came on the same day that foreign ministers of the European Communities agreed on a series of four mild sanctions against Syria for its alleged role in the abortive attempt by a Jordanian-born Palestinian to slip a bomb aboard an El Al airliner in London. There was some speculation that the release of the hostages, arranged with the obvious assistance of the Syrian government, was designed as a kind of affirmation of Syrian good intentions.

Chirac Embarrassment

Release of the hostages would probably push a Chirac embarrassment off the front page of Paris newspapers. In an interview with Arnaud de Borchgrave, editor in chief of the Washington Times, Chirac, in an expansive defense of French policy toward Syria, had expressed doubt last week that the Syrian government was involved in the attempted El Al bombing. He repeated speculation that Israeli agents and renegade Syrian agents could have conspired to do the job and frame Syria.

The interview, which has been front-page news here for several days, has made Chirac look foolish, both for holding such views and for expressing them, even in private, to a journalist.

After Chirac, who was quoted only indirectly in the interview, issued a denial, the Washington Times ran the full transcript of the interview on its front page Monday. The text, a French translation of the Washington Times’ English translation of the original interview in French, was reprinted in full by Le Monde on Monday.

Others Still Held

In addition to the two hostages reported released early today, the other Frenchmen still believed held in Lebanon include television soundman Aurel Cornea, 54; television lighting engineer Jean-Louis Normandin, 34; diplomat Marcel Carton, 62; diplomat Marcel Fontaine, 45, and journalist Jean-Paul Kauffmann, 43.

Islamic Jihad, which kidnaped the last three, announced the execution last March of academic researcher Michel Seurat, 38, but his body has not been found.

Among the kidnaped Americans, two are believed held by the Revolutionary Justice Organization, the same group that announced the impending release of the two French hostages. The Americans are 56-year-old American University official Joseph J. Cicippio and 55-year-old writer Edward A. Tracy.

Other kidnaped Americans are 39-year-old Associated Press bureau chief Terry A. Anderson; American University dean of agriculture Thomas Sutherland, 55, and Frank Herbert Reed, 53, an international school director.