Kidnaped Saudi Embassy Worker Freed in Lebanon

A Saudi Embassy employee who was kidnaped two months ago was released today, and Shia Muslim militia leader Nabih Berri said he and Syria obtained the hostage’s freedom.

“I hope for a happy ending for all the hostages,” said the chief of Syria’s military intelligence in Lebanon, Brig. Gen. Ghazi Kenaan. The general is also the coordinator of the 7,500 Syrian forces that have been in charge of West Beirut’s security since Feb. 22.

A bearded Bakr Damanhouri, wearing a brown suit and a white shirt, wept as Kenaan and Berri, head of the Amal militia and Lebanon’s justice minister, spoke at a news conference.

“I was treated as a prisoner. I saw nothing, no human, no bird, not even an animal,” Damanhouri said.

Berri echoed Kenaan’s commitment regarding the 25 other kidnaped foreigners, including eight Americans, in Lebanon.

“We shall seek freedom of all the hostages,” he said.

In addition to the hostages, Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite disappeared Jan. 20 while on a mission to negotiate the release of foreign captives.

“Amal and the Syrian forces exerted efforts to free Damanhouri,” Berri said. Kenaan confirmed Amal’s role.

The Saudi diplomat was the first foreign hostage to be released since the Syrian intervention in West Beirut four weeks ago. No group had claimed responsibility for his abduction.