Lebanon hostage release plan reported

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 8

Lebanon hostage release plan reported

NZPA-Reuter Beirut The Beirut magazine which revealed United States-Iran arms deals said on Sunday that plans were being drawn up for the release of all foreign hostages in Lebanon. An advance copy of the weekly magazine “AshShiraa,” which last November broke the news of secret United States arms supplies to Iran, quoted a well-informed source as saying a breakthrough was imminent on the plight of the hostages. The source said it was “likely to be at the end of September after recent efforts that led to the release of an American free-lance journalist, Charles Glass, and a German, Alfred Schmidt.” Glass reappeared in Beirut on August 18 after two months in captivity. Schmidt was freed and taken to Damascus on September 7. At least 27 more foreigners are missing and believed to have been kidnapped in Lebanon. The "Ash-Shiraa” source said prospects for the British church envoy, Terry Waite, were good after contacts had “achieved a great success.” He did not elaborf he editor of the magazine, Hassan Sabra, aged 44, was shot and badly wounded by a gunman in. Muslim West Beirut last Monday. He is recovering in hospital.