The World - News from Jan. 31, 1988

Pressured on two fronts, the Lebanese kidnapers of West German citizen Ralph Rudolf Schray, 30, will release their hostage within two days, a source close to Syrian security forces said. “The Syrians are determined to settle the issue decisively,” the source said. In addition to the Syrian efforts, Iran sent a delegation to Beirut to review the situation and the Iranian Embassy in Damascus intervened with the pro-Iran Hezbollah, or Party of God, to put pressure on the kidnapers, the source said. Meanwhile, the man suspected of masterminding the kidnaping fled to the southern port of Sidon, Shia Muslim militia sources said. They identified him as Abdul Hadi Hamadi, whose two brothers are being held in West Germany.