Missing CBS Television Crew Being Held in Baghdad

CBS correspondent Bob Simon and his three-man crew, who disappeared near the Kuwaiti border four weeks ago, are alive in Baghdad with their fate in the hands of Saddam Hussein, the president of CBS News said Friday.

“It’s an absolute cause for optimism,” Eric Ober said. “It’s changed the mood instantly. . . . It’s clear they went out of their way to tell us these guys are alive and well.”

Ober said CBS independently confirmed an earlier Cable News Network report from Peter Arnett in Baghdad that the journalists have been in the Iraqi capital for two weeks.

The crew was reported missing Jan. 21, four days after the Gulf War started. They were picked up by an Iraqi military jeep patrol at a remote location on the Kuwait border, CNN reported.

The missing crew members are producer Peter Bluff, cameraman Roberto Alvarez and soundman Juan Caldera.

CNN quoted what it called reliable sources as saying the fate of the four would be decided by Hussein. According to the report, the journalists will fall into one of these categories: innocents who could be released, prisoners of war or spies.

Definitive word of Simon and his team’s safety after weeks of rumors and unsubstantiated reports was greeted hopefully at CBS.

“This is, I hope, the beginning of good news,” said CBS News Vice President Don DeCesare, who is in Jordan working for the release of the newsmen. “It’s better news than we’ve received in the last 3 1/2 weeks, but we’re not home yet.”

DeCesare and producer Larry Doyle repeatedly have asked Iraqi officials in Jordan for permission to enter the country and look for the newsmen. The Iraqis have so far denied permission.

CBS spokesman Tom Goodman in New York said efforts were continuing “to secure their safe release and return.”

Ober attached particular significance to the decision by the Iraqi censor to allow release of the material.

“The fact that the military called Arnett to give him this definitive information was absolute proof positive they’re alive and apparently well, and that was a huge breakthrough for us,” Ober said.

Arnett said he was told the crew was being held near the former residence of the U.S. Embassy Marine guards. “My sources say that the health of all four is good. They are being fed three meals a day, the same food as their investigators,” he said.

Three of the crew were wearing military uniforms to pass by Saudi checkpoints in the guise of American soldiers, Arnett said he was told.

“They wanted to get closer to Kuwait than was permitted at the time,” the crew told investigators, according to Arnett. They were traveling without a military escort.

Goodman said CBS “has no information” on whether the crew was wearing uniforms.

Many journalists wear parts of uniforms in order not to stand out when with troops, but are not members of the military. Some, including Simon before his disappearance, complained about military restrictions on their ability to report the war.