Kin, in Yule Plea, Asks Captors to Release 16 Lebanon Hostages
BEIRUT — Terry Anderson’s sister asked his kidnapers Friday to release him for Christmas--his fourth in captivity--but acknowledged “there is little hope in my heart.”
Pleading for the American journalist and the 15 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 by Shia Muslim gunmen March 16, 1985, while returning home from a Saturday morning game of tennis and has been held the longest.
Lebanon’s most influential Shia cleric said Friday that the case of the Western hostages should be settled if Iranian captives are freed and Israel releases Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners.
“We are hearing these days many messages and calls for the release of the Western hostages,” said Sheik Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, spiritual guide of Hezbollah (Party of God), believed to be an umbrella organization for groups holding hostages.
‘Want This Matter Closed’
“We have said time and again that we want this matter closed,” Fadlallah said in a sermon at the Bir el Abed mosque in Beirut’s southern slums, where most of the foreigners are thought to be held.
“We add our voice to those calling for the release of the foreign hostages, provided all captives, including Iranians in East Beirut and Lebanese and Palestinians held by Israel, are also freed.
“There should be no distinction among kidnap victims. Let the cry be for the release of all hostages with no discrimination. Let’s treat the case from its humanitarian angle. Let us preserve the humanity of all of the captives.”
Hundreds of Palestinian and Lebanese guerrillas are in Israeli prisons.
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