The World - News from Oct. 19, 1987

The Church of England announced that Syria has pledged to help in trying to win freedom for church hostage negotiator Terry Waite, missing and presumed kidnaped in Lebanon nine months ago. But the Archbishop of Canterbury said he is not getting his hopes too high. The church said that John Lyttle, an envoy of Archbishop Robert A. K. Runcie, recently completed three days of talks in Syria and Lebanon. “I have no doubt the Syrian government would like to see the release of hostages,” Lyttle said. But he added, “Given all the factors, it would be foolish to be too optimistic.”