Waite Reports ‘Good Progress’ in Beirut : But Envoy Fails to Get Pledge From Key Militia; Saudi Kidnaped

Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite reported “good progress” Wednesday in his efforts to free American and other foreign hostages in Lebanon and said he was greatly encouraged by the support expressed for his mission.

His upbeat remarks came despite his inability earlier Wednesday to win an outright pledge of support from the nation’s strongest Shia Muslim militia and despite an announcement from Saudi Arabia that an employee at its embassy was kidnaped in Muslim West Beirut on Monday night.

At a news conference in West Beirut, Waite advised “foreign correspondents who want to come to this part of Beirut not to come for the time being.”

13th Journalist Seized

Waite said his concern sprang from the abduction Tuesday of Roger Auque, a free-lance reporter and photographer, the 13th foreign journalist kidnaped in the Lebanese capital since Muslim militias seized control from the army in February, 1984. Seven have escaped or have been set free.

” . . . I advise Westerners who are still living in this part of Beirut to take extreme precautions,” Waite said.

There was no word on whether Waite had established contact with any group holding foreign hostages in Lebanon. No group or person has claimed responsibility for Auque’s abduction.

He spoke after meetings with militia and religious leaders on the third day of his visit to Beirut.

Waite, personal emissary of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert A. K. Runcie, said he was “greatly encouraged by the support that has been expressed for my humanitarian mission here. I’ve received a great deal of support and understanding.”

“I have every reason to believe that good progress is being made,” the emissary said, stressing that he was “not going to be specific about certain plans, but there are plans.”

Meets Militia Leader

Waite began his day with a 40-minute meeting with Akef Haidar, second-in-command of Justice Minister Nabih Berri’s Shia Muslim Amal militia.

Haidar’s office was surrounded by sandbags. Waite arrived wearing a bulletproof vest.

“We condemn kidnapings,” Haidar said upon Waite’s arrival. “I advise foreigners not to walk on the streets a lot. We as Lebanese have to take precautions in this country.”

After the meeting, Waite called their exchange “open and good” and said he looked forward to another meeting.

Waite later met with Assem Kansou, leader of Lebanon’ pro-Syrian Baath Party.

Kansou said Waite asked him to try to arrange a meeting with Brig. Gen. Ghazi Kenaan, who heads the Syrian army’s intelligence operation in Lebanon.

Syria is the main power broker in this country. It maintains 25,000 troops in eastern and northern Lebanon under a 1976 peacekeeping mandate from the Arab League.

Waite also met Sheik Mohammed Mehdi Shamseddin, the spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Shia Muslim sect.

Shamseddin later told reporters, “I call on all those responsible for the freedom and safety of the hostages to positively respond to any effort to free them and reunite them with their families.”

A Saudi Arabian government announcement said the kidnaped Saudi, Bakr Damanhouri, was abducted from its embassy’s cultural office. A police spokesman, who refused to be identified further, said authorities were under the impression that Damanhouri was a Saudi businessman kidnaped for ransom.

Sixteen foreigners now are missing in Lebanon--five Americans, six Frenchmen, one Briton, one Italian, one Irishman, one South Korean and the Saudi. Many of them are believed to be held by terrorist groups loyal to Iran.