The World : Germans’ Ransom Hiked

The kidnapers of two West Germans abducted in Lebanon in January have raised their ransom demands from $1.1 million to $16.5 million, according to a source believed to be close to the negotiations. The source, confirming a report in the Lebanese daily An Nahar, also said the captors had earlier asked an additional $1 million in return for two letters written by Rudolf Cordes and Alfred Schmidt to their families. The offer was refused, the source said. The Moujahedeen for Freedom Organization said last week that it was holding the two men, who were seized after the arrest of Mohammed Ali Hamadi--now being held in Frankfurt--in connection with a TWA hijacking in 1985.