The World - News from Oct. 25, 1987

A previously unknown group, “the Forces of the Subjugated People,” claimed that it kidnaped a millionaire Palestinian businessman and banker in his West Beirut office, saying he is responsible for Lebanon’s economic crisis, the independent Beirut newspaper An Nahar reported. The paper quoted the group as saying in a statement: “After investigation with the detained Badr al Fahoum, he admitted his links with a reactionary state and that he was one of those who have caused the rise of the dollar in Lebanon.” The once-solid Lebanese pound has lost more than 80% of its international value this year, reflecting an economic crisis that has brought triple-digit inflation.