Hostages ‘on way to Damascus’

Press, 1 July 1985, Page 1

Hostages ‘on way to Damascus’

NZPA-AP Beirut The Shi-ite Muslim leader, Nabih Berri, has announced the release of 39 American hijack hostages, and said they would be driven to Damascus, Syria, beginning the journey home. Mr Berri, leader of the Shi-ite Amal militia and Lebanon’s Justice Minister, told a news conference at his office: “They have left for Damascus by road accompanied by the Red Cross. It’s already happened.” Reuter reported that Mr Berri told the news conference his Amal militia was sending the hostages to the Syrian capital after receiving unspecified guarantees

from Syria, the United States and local, regional and international Powers. Asked where the hostages were, he said: “They have already left.” Shortly before Mr Berri made his statement, four of the American hostages who had been held separately by radicals of Hezbollah, or the Party of God, were brought by Shi-ite militants to join the 35 other captives.

The Amal leader said: “The four you saw are Americans. They have been taken by the Red Cross too.” The hostages have been in captivity since Shi-ite extremists hijacked Trans World Airlines’ Flight 847 after it left Athens for Rome on June 14.