Waite, 2 Other Britons to Be Freed Shortly, Beirut Magazine Reports
A pro-Syrian magazine said Friday that the release of Church of England envoy Terry Waite and two other British hostages in Lebanon is imminent.
As Shiraa magazine, which unveiled in 1986 the arms-for-hostages deal between Iran and the United States, said behind-the-scene efforts are under way to free Waite, journalist John McCarthy and Anglo-Irish teacher Brian Keenan.
“The release of Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and the two other Britons will take place very soon,” said the magazine, quoting security sources.
Waite vanished on Jan. 20, 1987, while on a mission to secure the release of foreign hostages in Lebanon. McCarthy and Keenan were both seized in 1986.
As Shiraa said the agreement between Britain and Iran last week to resume full diplomatic relations has boosted the prospects for freedom for the Britons.
As Shiraa also said that Monday’s release of Indian hostage Mithileshwar Singh, who holds residence rights in the United States, was “the start of the release of more American hostages.”
It did not elaborate but said the hostages would be freed before the U.S. presidential election in November.
As Shiraa’s story coincided with a report in the Christian-based independent newspaper Al Anwar saying that Waite might be released within 72 hours.
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