Iran News Says Irish Hostage Will Be Freed

The official Iranian news agency reported today that a European hostage held in Lebanon would be freed soon.

The Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting an “informed source,” said the hostage to be freed was likely to be Brian Keenan, an Irish national held since April, 1986.

IRNA, monitored in Nicosia, did not name the source but correspondents in both its Beirut and Damascus office said the report was accurate. They said they did not know specifically when the release would take place.

The news agency carried a similar report on an imminent release in July, which proved false.

In Beirut, a source close to the Syrian command, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Syrian government was notified two days ago of the decision to free a European hostage, probably Keenan.

He said arrangements have since been discussed on where, when and how the release will take place.

The source said he believes the hostage will be handed to the Syrian authorities somewhere in Lebanon and will be delivered by the Foreign Ministry in Damascus to the Irish ambassador there.

In Dublin, the Department of Foreign Affairs said, “We are aware of the report and would point to its speculative nature.”

Gerben Meihuizen, the Dutch ambassador to Syria, said he had “no confirmation” of the report. The Netherlands handles Irish interests in Damascus while their non-resident ambassador, Declan Connolly, is based in Riyadh.

A source at the ministry of information in Damascus said they had no immediate information about the release.

Keenan’s family in Northern Ireland reacted cautiously to the report.

Keenan, 39, was kidnaped on April 11, 1986, in West Beirut while walking to his job as an English teacher at the American University in Beirut.

Fourteen Westerners are believed held by extremist Muslim groups in Lebanon. In addition to Keenan, they include six Americans, four Britons, two West Germans and an Italian. The longest-held is Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent of the Associated Press, who was abducted March 16, 1985.

Two Swiss Red Cross workers were released separately earlier this month.