WORLD : Hostage’s Sister Asks His Release

BEIRUT — Hostage Terry Anderson’s sister asked his kidnapers today to release him for Christmas--his fourth in captivity--but acknowledged that “there is little hope in my heart.”

Pleading for the American journalist and the 14 other foreigners held in Lebanon, Peggy Say declared in an open letter to the pro-Iranian captors: “I pray for you to have the courage to bring this to a peaceful conclusion.” Her appeal was published in Beirut newspapers. Nine of the hostages are Americans, including Anderson, the 41-year-old chief Middle East correspondent of the Associated Press. He was seized on March 16, 1985, and has been held the longest.