13 Americans Flee Lebanon to Cyprus

Thirteen Americans arrived by boat from Lebanon today as Westerners continued to flee that war-torn country, declared off-limits to U.S. citizens by Washington after a recent wave of kidnapings.

Among the latest evacuees were Leonard Swenson and his wife, Lois, who directed an orphanage in Lebanon for 31 years.

“We were worried, and it was a good idea to get out,” the 63-year-old Swenson said.

The couple, of Oscabel, Wis., said they left behind many friends in Lebanon.

‘People Were Coming and Crying’

“They were very sad . . . people were coming and crying and embracing us, wanting us to write letters, wanting us to stay,” said Lois Swenson, also 63.

George Chtaih of Eddison, N.J., a retired businessman of Lebanese descent, also said he left West Beirut “due to the circumstances. . . . It is a shame what is happening,” he said.

His wife, Linda, said the situation in West Beirut was not “as bad is it is thought to be” and she hopes to return “when the situation calms down.”

Their son George, 17, said the situation was “not as bad as it seemed, but I think it’s going to get worse.”