Clinton Meets, Supports Author Rushdie : Terrorism: President backs his effort to protect free speech and escape Iranian death sentence.

President Clinton and Secretary of State Warren Christopher met with British author Salman Rushdie on Wednesday to hear his plea for increased pressure on Iran to lift the death sentence imposed on him by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Rushdie had been at the White House to meet with Christopher and National Security Adviser Anthony Lake when Clinton dropped in on the group briefly, White House officials said. The President expressed support for Rushdie’s effort to protect free speech and escape his sentence, the aides said.

The visit with Clinton was Rushdie’s first meeting with a U.S. President. He later described it as the high point of his campaign to draw international attention to his cause.

“I think that this is a kind of pinnacle,” Rushdie said. “It does represent certainly the highest point of the campaign. I have no doubt in my mind that it will send the message around the world (and) . . . strengthen the resolve of our allies.”

Rushdie added that the American government has said that it is prepared to use its influence to help him in his predicament.

Rushdie met with British Prime Minister John Major in May but failed to get an audience with President George Bush during a visit to Washington two years ago. “I didn’t get very close to the White House last time,” Rushdie said.

In contrast, he praised the Clinton team’s response to his plight, saying that they “seemed to have genuine passion and commitment for this case. The thing that really struck me was the degree of personal friendship and warmth that came from the President.”

White House spokesman Mark Gearan said the meeting provided the Clinton team with an opportunity to demonstrate support for freedom of speech for “someone who has been the victim (of a) legitimized death threat for something he has said and written.”

Rushdie was forced into hiding in 1989 when Khomeini issued a fatwa , or religious edict, imposing a death sentence for his book “The Satanic Verses,” which the Iranian said is blasphemous to Islam.

Since then, Rushdie has appeared in public only rarely but has recently begun to speak out more frequently. Iran has rejected previous appeals from Western nations to lift the death threat.

Appearing tired and pale as he spoke at a news conference amid heavy security at the National Press Club after his meeting with Clinton, Rushdie--who is protected by British security--said that he and the Administration discussed a “whole range of possible policy options.”

Rushdie emphasized that he speaks not only on behalf of himself but also for other Iranian intellectuals and exiles whose lives are in jeopardy because of Iranian government threats.

He also said that the threat to his existence comes from state terrorism sponsored by the Iranian government, rather than from Muslim radical groups acting alone.

American embassies Wednesday warned U.S. citizens abroad to be alert to “terrorist or mob action” in connection with Rushdie’s visit.