Kidnap revives crisis

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 8

Kidnap revives crisis

NZPA-Reuter Beirut There are growing fears for the safety of a senior Jordanian diplomat kidnapped in Bierut last Friday. The Lebanese Prime Minister (Mr Shafiq -Wazzan) said yesterday that investigations into the abduction of the charge d’affairs, Hisham Moheisen, had drawn a total blank. In Amman, the Jordanian Prime Minister (Mr Mudar Badran) repeated charges that Syrian military intelligence was behind the kidnapping. But Syria denied the allegation and a pro-Syrian guerrilla group reported to have been responsible denied any involvement in the affair. Syria and Jordan have been waging a propaganda war against each other for several months and Arab diplomtic sources said that the kidnapping had brought the simmering conflict to the verge of a crisis. Two guards and a civilian passer-by were shot dead when more than 20 gunmen stormed the diplomat’s residence, which was. near roadblocks manned by Syrian troops who normally restrict the movement of armed men. A right-wing Lebanese radio station, hostile to the Syrian leadership, quoted an anonymous telephone caller as. saying that Mr Moheisen would be killed yesterday unless Jordan met several conditions. But several hours after the reported deadline there was no word on the fate of the diplomat, adding to the confusion surrounding the affair. Jordanian officials told NZPA-Reuter that the Government would make no concessions to the kidnappers ' Mr Badran, meanwhile, told the Jordanian Parliament: “If Lebanon is unable to protect diplomats then we shall call on all States to withdraw their embassies from ' Lebanon until. security is re-established.’’