GULF WATCH: Day 83 : A daily briefing paper on developments in the crisis : Hostage Front:

After talks with the American-Iraqi Foundation, Iraq allowed 14 American hostages to leave. A delegation said the foundation would in future talks like to help more of the estimated 700 to 800 other American hostages, 63 of whom are seriously ill.

Iraq also agreed to free all 400 French hostages. More than 30 freed Britons flew to London, and five Finns arrived in Jordan from Baghdad after their release.

U.S. officials called Iraq’s move a ploy to buy time, attract international support and fracture the alliance against it.

Military Front: Gen. Colin L. Powell, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there is no evidence to support reports of Iraqi troops pulling back from forward positions in Kuwait.

The Pentagon said it is considering sending additional troops to the Persian Gulf to bring the deployment to more than the 240,000 already planned. With more troops, the U.S. could shift from a defensive to an offensive capability.

Diplomatic Front: The ambassador of Saudi Arabia said there is no Saudi intention to seek a negotiated settlement with Iraq. The ambassador was summoned to the State Department after the Saudi defense minister hinted that Iraq’s territorial claims might be considered after a withdrawal from Kuwait.

Economic Front: After a record plunge of more than $5 a barrel Monday, oil prices rebounded slightly. However, the spot price remained under $30. Until this week, prices had climbed steadily since Iraq’s Aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait. Spot Prices for Crude Oil, Per Barrel: Aug. 1: $22.10 Aug. 15: $26.46 Sept. 1: $29.12 Sept. 15: $31.76 Oct. 1: $37.09 Oct. 9: $40.40 Oct. 22: $28.38 Oct. 23: $29.37 Source: New York Mercantile Exchange