Mithlleshwar Singh was freed by captors yesterday In Bolrut, Wis wife, Lala Mani Singh, Captors Free Hostage in Lebanon HOSTAGE, From Al stretch of wasteland on the fringes of Beirut’s Shiite Moslem southern suburbs, Throughout the day, his captors had Americans and authorities in Beirut playing a guessing game about which of the four hostages held by the group would be re- leased, © 2 | The Islamic Jihad for the Liber- ation of Palestine also holds Amer- icans Robert Polhill, Alann Steen and Jesse Turner. The initial com- . muniques, delivered to news organ- zations with pictures of the four, 1ad indicated only that one of them x auld be released yesterday, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk sharaa had told reporters at the IJnited Nations yesterday that an \merican hostage was expected to oe released last night and two U,S, elevision networks said the man veleased would be Steen. Previous communiques from the group _helding . Singh had been ougher, demanding the liberation ~ C400 Arab and Patestntar pr F rs held in Israeli jails as a condition or the release of the four profes- ors. USS. officials said initial indica- ions that there had been a change approach by the captors had ‘ome from Syrian authorities and sovernments id thé’Middle East. Then a series of statements by the - roup delivered to news agency oluices in Beirut last month, timed to coincide with the beginning of U.S.-Syrian talks here between As- sistant Secretary of State Richard Murphy and top Syrian officials, irged Washington to take positive iction regarding the recognition of alestinian rights, The Islamic Front for the Liber- tion of Palestine—which apparent- 7 is not linked to Islamic Jihad, a etter known movement holding at ‘ast two American hostages—has equently been described by ana- sts as pro-lranian. But Iranian vurces in Beirut recently pro- sted that description. The urces, who have close tics to the anian Embassy, suggested that e kidnapers of the professors ‘re linked tc another regional wer having interests in Lebanon, US, and Syrian sources said ear- today that Singh is spending the sht at a government rest house d will be examined by doctors er. Syria’s minister of state for for- in affairs, Nasser Qaddour, said sterday that Singh will be handed er to U.S. Ambassador Edward stejian today, U.S. Embassy spokesmen here d Singh was being turned over to : American diplomatic mission fe because he had expressed his rsonal desire t be a U.S. res- Int when he applied for his green ld : t LIVING IN Soe AMERICANS responsibility for his kidnaping. kidnaping. a, - Stes + Edwin Austia Tracy, » writer, disappeared in October 1986, Tracy’ | spent most of his adult life traveling around the world, but was a resident of West Beirut when kidnaped, The Revolutionary Justice Organization asserted tosponsibility for his abduction Oct. 21, 1986, | public accountant and lecturer in accounting at Beirut University College, kidnaped from the campus Jan. 24.1987. Polhill lectured at BUC for one year before his Sisappearance.- cod Alann Steen, communications instructor at Beirut University College, | Robert Poihill, a certified bidnaped from the campus Jan. 24, Steen's abduction. 2 computer sci | Hativeof Boise-Turner hol headed a 75-man observer % BRITISH Joha McCarthy, a television producer, kidnaped April 86. - { - FOREIGN HOSTAGES IN LEBANON | : Terry A. Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press, kidnaped March 16, 1985, in West Beirut. Anderson worked at the AP bureaus in Tokyo and Johannesburg before being assigned to Beirut. Islamic Jihad asserted responsibility for his kidnaping, Thomas Sutherland, acting dean of agriculture at the American University of Beirut, kidnaped June 9, 1985, Sutherland, a . . Scottish-born American, worked in Beirut for two years before his abduction. His wife also taught at the American University in Beirut. « Islamic Jinad asserted responsibility for his kidnaping. . Frank Herbert Reed, American director of the Lebanese Internationat School, kidnaped Sept. 9, 1986, Betore disappearing, Reed spent nine. years in Lebanon. He is a convert to Islam. Hig wife, a Syrian, also i taught at the International School. Arab Revolutionary Cells asserted | fo : Joseph James Cicippio, acting comptrolier at the American University of Beirut, kidnaped Sept. 12, 1986, on'the West Beirut campus. Cicippio moved to converted to Islam.in 1985. He is married to a anes an, Revolutionary Justice Organization asserted responsibility for his «umpleted his academic studies at Humboldt State University in | California. His wife was teaching fine arts at BUC at the time of Jesse, fonathan Turner, a visiting professor of mathematics and q ed from the campus Jan, 24,1 Marine Lt. Col, Willlam R, Higgins, kidnaped Feb. 17,1988. Higgins, group attached to the U.N. Interim: Force (n Lebanon when he was grabbed from his U.N.‘car by three men near the town of Tyre. The pro-lranian Organization pf the Oppressed on’ j Earth said April 21 that Higgins would be Put.en trial for spying. jUMILO PALS MITC RATIONAL ACUICH FOTOS, fa in warl Jn photo on right, i | CAPTIVITY: RISEN TERA GAINES outside of, his apartment building Beirut in 1984 and a Lebanese woman, «* : 1987. A Boston riative, Stern idaho universities 1. Terry Waite, special envoy for the archbishop of Canterbury, last seen dan. 20, 1987. Waite was ona Special mission to negotiate for the * hostages’ release when he shed his bodyguards for a special meeting with Kidnapers, then disappeared, . Brian Keenan (Irish), kidnaped April 11, 1986, Alberto Molinari (Itallan), kidnaped Sept. 11, 1985. William Jorgensen (Norwegian), ‘kidnaped Feb. 5, 1988, Jan Stening (Swedish), kidnaped Feb. §, 1988, NOTE In Apel 1986. the Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Moslems said Alec Collatt had been killed, Tae . 7 . ot SOURCE, Associated Press, Reuter In Beirut, Singh's wife choked back tears as she told reporters: “This is a happy day for me, but I still did not see him. ] want to see him,” The Associated Press re- Ported, Singh who was born in Varanasi, India, taught eight years at the Uni- versity of Agra and eight years at the University of Gorakhpur before Moving to the: United States in 1965 for graduate work at the Uni- versity of Oregon, the AP said. He received a master’s degree from Oregon in 1968 and a doctorate from Western Colorado, formerly in Grand Junction. He taught at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Milton College in Wisconsin and Western Colorado before going to Beirut. oan He and the three Americans THE WASHINGTON POST were kidnaped when a group of gunmen disguised as policemen set .4 trap by calling them to a meeting on the campus that purportedly was to discuss security measures, The four professors were then taken away at gunpoint and’ bundled into cars and commandeered police vans that had been unwittingly allowed onto the campus. ~*~ The three Americans seized with Singh are among nine Americans still being held hostage in Lebanon. Two have been in captivity since 1985 and most of them are believed held by groups associated with the Tran-sponsored Hezbollah organi- zation, tha . Hopes for’ the release of three Britons among foreigners kidnaped in Lebanon were raised Friday when Britain and Iran agreed to resume ae -RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 CPYRGHT re Boat a “ebanese iidnapers By Nora Boustany Washington Post Foreign Service DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 4 (Tuesday)—A U.S, resident of In- dian origin held hostage with three American professors in Lebanon for 20 months was released in Beirut last night and brought here to be turned over to the American am- bassador. today, U.S. and Syrian officials said. Mithileshwar Singh, 60, chair- man of the business administration department at the Beirut Univer- sity College, was released by the Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of . ersity College on Jan. 24, 1987, ted before releasing Singh, said hey intended their action as a bood-will gesture toward the Unit: upport for the Palestinian uprising the Israeli-cccupied West Bank nd Gaza Strip, In Washington, however, White House spokesman Marlin .Fitawa- Pr, responding ta the “captors’ CPYRGHT Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 The captors, in messages distrib-. d States and ai effort to gain US, . ‘atementa, said that “we” remain - «Coal 4 erase. U.S. Resident Indian Freed in Move to Gain American Good Wall: ‘al! hostages in Lebanon,” lostage steadfast in our policy” of “making no deals, no quid pra quo.”. State Department spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley told reporters: “We join with Mr. Singh’s relatives in rejoicing in his release and call for the urgent unconditional release of. Singh, who studied and taught in’ the United States for several years before joining the Beirut University. College faculty in'1983, was taken into protective custody -by Syrian forces after he was released near the headquarters of the U.N, Relief. : and Works Agency, on a sandy ~ See HOSTAGE, A26, Colt ° "Tr pe: CPYRGHT
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 CPYRGHT CPYRGHT Ne aL . "ot . q ¥ Wa \ ae Ye. TRUE > Ld i ULE War a The United | Nations heb “ft ¢ ‘ E = 4 Military Observer Group. 3 ( Baghdad» \ 350-man unarmed force, vill] > dam Tasso to Compromise, ac- monitor {he truce and tanp under ‘he plafi, but an Iranian dip- cording to knowledgeable sources IRAQ ~ IRAN withdrawal. Te group a6 { lomat said the stift confidential and U.N. diplomats, 5 naval peacekeeping BN ' ter ms call for commencement of Fahd reportedly telephoned re- . t shatt af Arab which will palral areas in the rcpatrlition by the cnd of this gional leaders including Saddam we Rasraal northern gulf and on the month or.in early September. Hussein and sent his foreign min- : In Tehran, President Ali Kha-_ ister, Saud Faisal, fo Baghdad and . kuwait menel, who had earlier expressed Tis ambassador “in Washington to —- ‘doubt about the prospect for impos- _New York. “A ing a tice, said the war “is appar- These sources said Saudi Ambas- ently coming to a close.” sador Bandar bin Sultan met a num- Negctiations that led to today’s ber of times with representatives of agreement followed Iran’s surprise the five permanent Security Council announcement July 18 that it was member stateg-—the United States, SAUDI ARABIA ready ty drop its year-old precon- viet_Union, China, “Britain “and dition tiat Iraq be branded the “ag- _Brancesto help build a coalition of gressor’ in the war before the fight- “states friendly to Iraq to assure a ing coud stop. Then Iraqi Foreign _ cease-fire would be followed by a Ministe: Tariq Aziz, under orders comprehensive peace process and from Fresident Saddam Hussein, settlement. insisted that Iran sit down for face- The Saudi diplomats reportedly to-face negotiations before any also provided the channel for Perez ; BY LARRY FOGEL—THE WASHINGTON POST cease-fie as a measure of “good de Cuellar to present to Saddam ; faith.” Hussein the last and best offer the With the arrival in New York two - secretary general’s staff believed - disputed Shatt al Arab waterway. Total cost is estimated at $74 milion for six months. -.. Persian . Golf? This is not a personal success, itis cluding eight Americans, in Lebanon h success for the parties and the by Islamic fundamentalist groups. weeks ago of Aziz and Velayati, Iraq they could craft to draw both sides Peele, Council. The Tranian said the issue of the and Irar set up rival camps on Man- into a peace process, ollowing the secretary general hostages was “quite different and has hattan’s East Side, where both dip- The sources said Fahd and Hus- [put of the chamber was Kittani, the no relation to peace with Iraq and lomatic missions are located near sein spoke again by telephone as [pt@sarious Iraqi ambassador. Tam our relations with the United U.N. headquarters. Both sides is- the weekend began, with Hussein |p Very happy man,” he said. States.” He then pointed out that sued cortentious statements, while agreeing to moderate his position in A few minutes later, Velayati, even though the hostages are being fighting continued along the border. return for “fraqi-Saudi closeness” |Pvho was scheduled to return to feld in Lebanon, there were “spin Iran complained of a new chem- after the war and a pledge of “col- [Tehran last night, called a news jtyal and historical relations” be“ ical weapons attack that it said in- lective” Arab support should the |fonference to say that he hadcome tween the Shiite fundamentalist jured nore than 2,000 civilians. peace talks break down. o New York to begin a peace pro- holding the hostages and the Iraniz U.N. officials railed against Iraq’s The deadlock broke with Saddam fess, but “at the same time, Iraq regime. If Iran could help in th refusal ‘9 enter into any “substan- Hussein’s surprise announcement Fontinued its sabotage against the release Volant Said ewes the p. tive” talts with them until Jran sub- Saturday night that he was willing « [Efforts of the secretary general b t yi P : ys ¥ — icy,ochis government to da so. mitted to.a face-to-face meeting, a to remove his demand for early ~‘[Intensifying its acts of aggression: iB dc} conditioy Iran sdid was an attempt face-to-face talks if Iran would -hgainst our’ territory,’ using chem- perez. de. Cuellargwito sai to humitate its foreign minister. make an official pledge to enter into - [cal weapons, insisting on precon- : Perez de Cuellar and his staff direct talks immediately following « d : a Hitions “:*. . and refusing to talk to worked ‘o break the deadlock, while the imposition of a cease-fire. : : oy . he secretary general.” both sides lobbied in the interna- Perez de Cuellar, looking tired: i , * % fs Velayati renewed [ran’s demand tional ccmmunity for support. The and relieved that the negotiating =" ‘Ithat the Security Council condemn: Security Council's five permanent marathon liad ended, told reporters vaq for usin neve as and mustar d members groped for ways to “guar-_ that he thinks the truce will yield an [ff 4 th 8 UN oti vals said tli antee” a good-faith negotiating pro- agreement. “[ am persuaded that Poke 1 hat he ‘he ical Said Gis cess, and today’s announcement both parties very much are inter- |PYeckend that the chemical weapons. carried the council's strong en- ested in finding a just and lasting [Pharges will be treated as an issue && Te Cinsanatl, Presid ent R dorsement that a cease-fire could solution.” peparate from the peace talks. A chet 4 d, “T not be separated from a full-scale He acknowledged that there had _|feam is expected to visit the site. praised the accord, saying, t negotiation to achieve lasting been moments of despair in the past Velayati_ was asked whether the the news the world has wait peace. two weeks, “but I had to conceal it [fhe peace process would have a pos- and the United States has p . In the end, pressure from Iraq’s from you,” he said, adding that he _ [tive impact on the prospects Tor the for, news that we may finally Arab_neighbors, including Saudi would not take any personal credit. ‘Jfélease of T8 foreign hostages, in- end to that Jong and bloody we Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 Ture, WASHINGTON Post: Tuunsnay, Feanpany 18, 1988 A19 Gunmen in Lebanon Seize American Marine Officer LEBANON, From AL —— — —ore neighboring Arab countries, The organization's 75-man unit in Leb- anon, which Higgins henced, worked closely with the much big- ger—and better known—ULN. In- terlm Force in Lebanon, the actual peace-keeping force. Higgins, according to witnesses and U.N. officials here, was return: ing to the U.N. peace-keeping force's hendquarters nt Naqurah, 15 miles south of Tyre, when he was abducted at 2:15 p.m, local time (7:15 a.m, EST). He was dtiv- ing alone in a U.N, car flying the UNIFIL,: | blue-nnd-white U.N. flag, they enid, ff RMILERRTLALG Annexad % following another U.N. vehicle, y Israel) .when three men armed with } Kalashnikov assault rifles inter- cepted his car ag the firat vehicle rounded n curve near Ras Ain, four Marcel Fontaine, March 22, 1985. miles south of Tyre, tions department, said, “Amal will Witneases anid they saw the gun- not leave a stone unturned in look: HOSTAGES IN LEBANON SS. AMERICAN A Terry Anderson, chief Middia East correspondant af The Assaclated Press, March 16, 1985. ‘Thomas Sutharland, dean of agriculture at tha American University of Beirut, June 9, 1985. Frank Herbert Read, director of the Lebanon international School In Galrut, Sept. 9, 1986. Joseph James Clei , acting comptrotier of the American University ot Beirut, Sept. 12, 1986, Edward Austhn Tracy, suthor, Oct. 21, 1986. Jasve Turner, visiting professor of mathematics and computer aclence at Beirut University College, Jan. 24, 1987. Robert Polhill, assistant professor of business at Balrut Univaraity College, dan. 24, 1987. . Alann Steen, journalism professor at Beirut University Coltege, Jan. 24, Marina Lt Cot. Willem R. Higgine, head of a 75-man observer group. attached to the U.N, Interim Force In Labencn, yesterday. Alec Collett, March 25, 1985. John McCarthy, April 17, 1986 Terry Walte, Jan, 20, 1987. CPYRGHT Marcel Corton, March 22, 0685. Michel Seurat, May 22, . men shove Higgina into the trunk of ing for and uncovering the perp Jean-Paul Kautimann, May 22, 1985. ared Mercedea and speed off with — tratars.” reared [him along a dirt road forking offthe Amal has avoided attacks on U.N WEST GERMAN mal main constal highway. troops in Lebanon, whom it sees a ‘When the three U.N, officers in protectors against Israeli forces the first vehicle renlized Higgins which have established a securit Rudolf Cordes, Jan. 17, 1987. Raiph Rudo!l Schray, Jan. 27, 1998, “OTHER NATIONALITIES 4 being subjected to any kind of dai attack took place ig contested by ger,” one Antal official said today the Antal militin and the more rad- This act only benefits Terael, 8] ical, Iran-backed Hezbollah mo though the actual tools carryins The constal stretch where the Mithileswar Singh (Indian), Jan, 24, 1987 Bran Keenan (Irish), April 11, 1986. Alberto Molinari (Itallan), Sept. 11, 1985 Wililam Jorgensen (Norwegian), Feb. 5, 1988. Jan Siening (Swedish), Feb. $, 1988. Two peonta of unknown nationality were kidnaped Jan. 26, 1967. et attacks againat soldiers of the A note delivered to a news age! U.N, peace-keeping force. . ‘Amal chief Nabi Berrl went into cerna about the two Scandinaviq a closed seasion with key mititary representatives of the U.N. Reliff NOTE In March 1986 hnlaric Jihad claimed that Michel Seurat fad been billed: The following, month tha Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Moslems enkl Alec Collett had been hiked, [ SOURCE, Associoted Press advisers this evening. Hassan Yous- and Works Agency kidnaped sou + aef, head of Amal’s external rela- of Sidon on Feb, 5. The unsigngd y Sought’ Lebanon Duty MARINE, From Al Group operntea six observation posts and conducts patrols along the Lebanese-lyraeli border in con function with the United Nationa fotersm Force in Lebanon (UNI- FIL), crented after the March 1978 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, A Norwegian television corre- spondent who traveled with Higgina through southern Lebanon two ‘weeks ago told CBS News, “He was aware of the risk. He said, ‘We can be kidnaped, We can be shot at, We “Le was eager to find out how strong they [pro-Iranian Hezbollah\ were.” — Norwogian television correspondent can be robbed, But this is a part of our daily life.” The Norwegian journalist said Higgins traveled with him without an escort or weapons. He also said Higgins expressed a special interest in the pro-[ranian Hezbollah and reports that the group was increas- ing its activities in the area, “He was eager to find out how strong they were,” the reporter said. Higgins became chief of the nit in Jamuary as me of an le ia rusalem and Tiberias in in various command positions and rupted in a routine staff meeting by a which the U.S, senior ms itary ob- three are in Damascus. waa promoted to lieutenant colonel telephone call from the State Depart- server serves as commander from regent all branches of tha U.S. — iv January 1983, ment. January to June of each year and an armed forces. tliggins “netively sought” an as A family friend drove the couple's Australian Hieutenant colonel heads signment with the U.N, unit in Leh- daughter, Chrissy, 17, to the Penta the group for the erat af the y 7 anu after 4 Fyunes of daty in gon from. Worxtbrldye yeuterdity Hes am if taur at Lebanod be ing the Soviet Union, that ic- the Washington area, according ta morning #0 that her mother could twat June. | Ipate in tho obdarver groups: ano Pentagon official. relay the sketchy details of her fa- The Unied States has iusigned Migghia joined tha Martial Gorpa fle wife, Markia Mn). Ratin Flige — thar’a dixapponrince, according to A 36 military officers ta U.N. obsery- in 1967 and gerved in the G(fntry — gins, works in the Pentagon's public Pentngan colleague. The Higgins ._ of erupt throughout the Middle Vietnam. q affalre office, She was informed of family has tived in Woodbridge for usilisidttia 4 nerior Service [MBednt her husbnad’s disannenrance at nhout the past a vears, the coworker (OY KARAT KALCHAYAM Tra WASHANETTOH POT kidnap victin, stands outalde Woodbridge home. At left is Greg Martin of Pentagon. Now . ee Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 I note accused the two, Jan Stening, velopment Program alsa postponed 44) of Sweden, and William Joer- a planned assistance program for gegsen, 57, of Norway, of being Lebanon pending the release of the invplved in activities of an intelli- two. was no longer following them, Gok- zone in southern Lebanon along thy ae ce pervice linked to # foreign Many observers here were sur- sel said, “they turned back and — [eraeli border. . . eet . | t gaid the two . found fliggins’ cae empty.” “We will never acquiesce to th e | statemen| a were still in southern Lebanon. The i nh vente to avy find of da \d be released only “when they widespread assumption had been Leal ian wegian foreign {tall oficial Americans had mbistry spokesmen denied that cleared out of Moslem-controiled ah i eifher man was connected to intel- ment, which in 1986 launched rock- the kidnaping could be non-Israeli, idence activities. ‘ i f Jou aco and he Kidnaping of Joergenaen ave fighters launched an. attack against cy in Belrut today raised new cog- Skkning prompted the U.N. agency le i tq pull out some of its 14-member positions feign staff from Beirut and tem- - pirarily move some of the opera- Ine to Damascus. The U.N, De- seven of them. prised to learn that any Americans areas after a wave of kidnapings swept Beirut in 1985. Earlier today, Islamic Resistance of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army near the Christian town of Jezzine, killing — CPYRGHT
PCE ETON MII TI Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R000400040001-3 terete ay ee CPYRGHT Sa aeeEeREene ee “AI2 Teesoay, Aucust 8, 1989. ‘THE WASHINGTON PosT CPYRGHT CPYRGHT Man in Beirut Videotape Probably Was Higgins, FBI Experts Say By Ruth Marcus ‘Westingion Pow Siaff Writer ie aaa yesteroay I concluded that the man depicted| hanging in a videotape released by a} pro-lranian Shiite Moslem group in| Beivut fast week waa probably| American hostage Marine Lt. Col, ‘Wiliam R. Higgins, and the burea' considers “within a reasonable de- gree of medical certainty” that the} person was dead, In a statement, the FBI said a “positive identification could not bi made,” but ceported that “numer } ous observable characteristics wer hotel tofirathyg Vat Wie preact depicted in te videotape ia Lt. Col, Higgins.” The FRE alsa said that "is jndig tend has been made within a rea. suitable degen ob nthe cer auil Lebanon’s “Terrorist Groups “Analysts Concur “On Some Specifics ~and journalistic sources on the na- Tture and history of Lebanon's ter- forist groups, but there is agree- “ment on the following outlines of the most prominent ones: ‘@ Hezbollah (Party of God)—Re- * garded by the State Department ag ““an organization af several thousand menibers responsible for most kid: napping of Americans and other foreigners, Many other experts be- Tieve it is tess a formal, structured group than a loosely knit ideological . Movement serving as an umbrell for many radical Shiite groups. It ig closely allied with Iran, and U.S. officials say it seeks to turn Leba- non into an Iranian-styled Islamiq republic. wislamic Jihad (Islamic Hol: ,War)—The State Department sayg nit is Hezbollah under a different “name, Others regard it as one o} aseveral distinct groups linked loose ly under the Hezbollah ideological ‘oanner. It has strong links with Iraq and has asserted responsibility fot kidd shesiX fin Ne FAanCr Cx leadership has never been iden] Stified positively, but many intelli gence sources believe it has ties U s followers of Sheik Mohammed Huq ssein Fadtailah, a Shiite cleric why also is frequently cited as leader q 3 Hezbollah. tm Revolutionary Justice Organize 3tion—Another pro-Iranian Shit “group, it claims to hold America thostage Joseph J. Cicippio and se’ ‘eral other foreigners. Some anal glysts believe it is Istamic Jihad of * erating under another name. Other Econtend it is a breakaway grou “that mirrors the power struggle ba ctween pragmatists and militants i z{ean. According to this theory, Re olutionary Justice is allied to tht Tehran extremists and emerge] rafter Islamic Jihad, responding 4 ‘iranian moderates, stopped takin] Weatern hostages in 1985. m Organization of the Oppresse| son Esrth—Also known as Hol 3 Strugglers for Freedom, it is th {militant Shiite group that claims have killed Lt. Col, William R. Hig gins. In January 1987, it kidnappe] two West Germans in an ungucces! fal attempt to force release of Mq hammed Ali Hamadei, serving prison term in West Germany fq a] ® a * by singly viewing the videotape. The FBI statement did not when Higgins died, but a Pentag {ficial suggested he may have dikd before his captors said he did. official, speaking before the stae- ment was released, said the bqliy| shown on the videotape had nondlof sthe signs of hanging, such ag aj # snapped neck and bulging eyps, » Reuter reported. . = While in Lebanon, Goulding fet} Swith leaders of Hezbollah, or Pa Zar God, the pro-lranian Shiite fx tremist grouo that is believed|itq atthe perso eotape is dead,’ The statement was silent about the timing and cause of death. But senior administration officials said there is “strong circumstantial ev- idence” that the person had been killed before being hanged, possibly before the July 28 abduction by ta- raeli commandos of Shiite cleric Abdul Karim Obeid. In a ceremony at Fact Myer to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the War Department, President Tush, hla voice breaking with emo- Vion, yesterday praised Higgins aw “a aymbal of the cournge that hucws inthe tredet of every Aniston in uniform.” Marine Corps Cammandant Gen. Alfred M. Geay informed Uiggins’ wif, Robin of the resulta af the videaLape attalysts, Musi atlve catledt ned. _ Betrut jcoun \\ HEIGHTS iN fanned GALE \ HEZBOLLAH AND 1046 20%. REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS § the release of the I'BI statement, “to offer his support and encourage ment,” White House spokesnian Marlin Fitawater said. “The president said the U.S. gov- ernment will contime to do all it can to abtain a full accounting of what happened to her husband,” Fitzwater said. Higgina was kid- napped Feb, 17, 1988, in southern Lebanon, where he was heading a 75-member United Nations peace- ‘keeping teani. The FBI staterent, which was based on examination of the video- tape by PUL forrnale experta and auteide yalhologlats, fepresnslid the firal olticial U.S. government aadeanment af the videotape, whick showed a bound and ggg man hanging by lis arek froma rope, Adammistration sgurees said tu SYRIA ' ‘ DEMNLITARIZED ZONE va M { oy tsrael) WSRAEL Hata Sea of Galitee' ‘aking part in the 1985 hijacking of * Trans World Airlines flight to Bei- ‘ut, la {Islamic Holy War for the Liber- lation of Palestine—Thought to in- clude both radical Shiites and Pal- lestinian guerrillas, it is probably tied loosely to Hezbollah, In January 1987, it kidnapped four profes- sors—three Americans and one sity of Beirut. it demands release of One captive, Peter Kilburn, was killed in 1986, reportedly in retaliation for the U.S, bombing of Libya. more than 400 Shiites and Pales- tinians jailed in Israet and abalition of the Lebanese Christian military enclave established by Israel in southern Lebanon. @ Lebanese Armed Rovolutlonary Front—Composed primaci ical leftist Lebanese Christians led by Georges [brahim Abdallah, who was jailed in Paris for complicity in the murder of an American military attache and an Israeli diplomat, it kidnapped a French diplomat in an unsuccessful attempt to frre Abdal- lah, a The Arab Revolutionary Colle— Functioning under the namea The Omar Mukhtar Brigade and the Ge DHeE EOOK— Tre ISHNTION POST Revolutionary Commando Cells, it} seems to be the same organization, Intelligence sources believe it is! financed and controlled by Libya. i has claimed to hold Cicippio, but that is disputed in intelligence cir: cles. One of ita captives, Peter Kil burn, librarian at the American Uni. versity, was killed in 1986, report. ed mecctaligtion. for, the. bombing of Libya. . we Islamic Liberation Organiza. tion—Composed of Sunni. Mosle fundamentalists. It kidnapped foug Soviet diplomats in 1985 and de. manded that Moscow pressure Syri to lift its siege of the northern port city of Tripoli. The Soviets reacte by killing some of its members, and the hostages were released, w Christian Lebanese Forces: ‘The militia of the right-wing, pre dominantly Maronite Christian Pha| lange Party, it regards itself as conventional fighting force rathe than a terrorist group. But it re] portedly was responsible for thq kidnapping and apparent killing four Iranian diplomats in 1982, a act that many observers believ triggered Lebanon's subsequen plague of hostage taking. w Tho South Lebanese Army-—Ant other conventional militia that i predominantly Christian and backeq by Israel as a buffer in an enclav along the Israeli-Lebancse horde: It kidnapped 21 Finnish troop; serving with U.N. peace-keepin, forcea in 1985, but released them few days luter after Israet wag suly jected to heavy complaints from th United States and other nations. ys Solution to Hostage Crisis t Diplomacy and Some Time wield control over the captors of the Westermers missing in Lebanon. }le also met with prominent Mos- jem religious figures and Lebanese and Syrian officials. Timor Goksel, spokesinan for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, (UNIFIL) said Goulding will travel to Israel to meet Defense Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Dep- uty Foreign Minister Binyamin Ne- tanyahu after spending the night at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqaura. Goulding told reporters after 2 meeting with Hoss that he thought the United Nations could play a role in dealing with the hastage problem because “it has to be solved” through "a long process of quiet and patient diplomacy," and 9 "cooper- ative effort” of all international and humanitarian organizations. Tension over the safety of hos- tages aud peasible U.S. or Israeli military retaliation had eased over the last two days amid reports of an Algerian drive to undertake con- tacts with the captors of foreigners in Lebanon, especially Americans. Algerian Ambassador Khaled Hignawi met this morning with Shi- ite cleric Sobhi Tofeily this morn- ing, a leader in fLezbollah's consul- is tative council, in a bid to purse contacts with the group. A Lebanese political source sa Algeria has been asked to act “postman” between Iran and tie United States to help iron out sna; in the intricate diplomacy. Last week, the Algerian amba sador expressed the view that t captors of foreigners in Lebany could be acting frecly and withd directives from Tehran. But Shig groups involved iu the hosta je in Lebanon are known to ha inks to certain wings of the Irani] leadership, such ag the radical terior minister, Ati Akbar MohfR shemi. Ia an impassioned appeal tod fram the gravesite of the deceas leader of the [ranian revolutiq ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Mq shemi declared that thousands| Shiite Moslems were ready to bri down the superpowers and tioned that any dilution of Ki meini’s anti-American drive wo} enslave Iran. “The imam (Khomeinil always tacked, He always had an offens| posture towards the United Statq Mohtasliemi said in a speech S| day that was quoted on Tehran dio today. amy STO t ss ond, much clearer copy of the vid- catape through intelligence chan- nels. One senior administration official familiar with the videotape analysis said the conclusion that Higgins had been killed before the hanging was based on the appearance of the body on the tape, the fact that it was dressed in winter clothes in the middle af summer and the failure of the hostage-takers to return the body. The official said the working assumption ia that Higgins was killed sometime after the shooting down af on Tranian Aichus over the Poraian Gutlin July 1948. Higgins’ abductors claimed they hanged him fast Monday in retal- jatloa for the Israel kidnapping of Dheit, and Obeid renartedly tolt Israuh authorities Unit be had secu before his abduction. FB) Assistant Director Milt Ah- lerich said FBI laboratory experts reached the conclusion that the body in the videotape was probably Higgins by using new, computer- aided techniques that primarily compare facial features. He said the pathologists who concluded that the figure was dead were experts {rom outaide the FDI who did not wish to be identified, but another source sald the pathologists were from the armed forces, Fitawater said Rush was “cau Hounly optimiatic" that the retains (wa eight Amecteans held captive in Lebanon will eventually be re. leased, but the president “knows that it's probably going to be a lang- er period of time rather than short- er’ may have beer killed earlier Abductors’ Motives Still Murl Conflicting Claims and Demands Add to Longstanding Puzzle By John M. Goshko ‘Washington Pout Staff Writer for Americans, trying to fathom the hatreds behind the apparent staying of U.S, Marine Lt. Col. Wil- liam R. Higgins is like watching some grisly contest where neither the rules nor identities of the ap- ponents are known but the stakes are tife or death, That has been the situation since July 28 when Israel's abduction of Shiite Mosler cleric Abdul Karin gotiations for a major hostage swap. The accompanying barrage of confusing assertions and demands from different organizations claint- ing to hold foreign captives has un- derscored anew why diplomats, telligence analysts and academics have been unable to sketch a ration- al picture of the hostage-taking phe- nomenon that has engulfed Lebanon since 1982, The experts agree on one poi no single organization is responsible for the abduction of foreigners, al- though some of the groups have links and comman sponsors. More than g dezen differe MO NOSTAREs, i claiming responsi kidnapping. And, in what makes the effort to free the captives extreme- ly difficult, the kidnappers have acted from different motives and made differing ransom demands, When Higgins, head of a U.N. peace-keeping mission, was kid- gapped on Feb. 17, 1988, two} groups asserted responsibility, and others later voasted that they were his captors, Ultimately the July 31 claim that he had been hanged in| setaliation for Obeid’s abduction came from the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, a pro-lranian| Shiite group with a strong anti-[s+ raelj bent. Subsequent statements atternat-| ing threats to kill Cicippio or to ex- change him for Obeid and 450 Acabs imprisoned by Isracl have come from the Revolutionary Ju tice Organization, another radical] pro-franian Shiite group. Evel more confusing, many statements and media reports have put respon: sibility for the fate of both men and other hostages on yet another Shi ite group, the Hezbollah or Party of ‘od, Some experts explain the confu: sion by claiming that the kidnappers “Around the world, there are n merous Hezbollah cells, created ¥ the holy breath of Imam, which cy the death of the superpowers angi world arragance,” said Mohtashe: whe is widely admired among SI ‘ites halling hostages in Lebanon. a are essentially the same people op- erating under different names ov kat they are loosely allied may ta under the winbrella of Hez- bpllah, Dut these experts are far bm unified about what that means. The State Department, in its an- nial report, Patterns of Global Ter- ism, lists Hezbollah as a terrorist ganization dedicated to creation an Iranian-style Isiamic republic Lebanon. It says the Revolution- Justice Organization and anoth- prominent terrorist group, Is- ic Jihad, are Mezbollah using ferent names, However, in an article for the ind Corporation, two experts on banon's Shiites, Brian Michael J#nkina and Robin Wright, de- sfribed Hezbollah as a state of mind pre than an actual organization th a formal structure. They ote! : “Even the various celts that fait der the Hezbollah umbrella are in diferent Islamic clerics in different ighborhoods. Membership in ezboltah is self-declared, and leati- ship is decentralized. “Flezbollah does not qualify as an ganization in the conventioual sense... . Thus, an individual may once be a Shiite militiaman, a mber of Hezbollah and an oper- alive of the Islamic Jihad, taking dere directly ot indirectly from 0 ROverfiment. in Tehran. t+. Hostage-taking in the Middle Hist was known as early as the 6th ntury B.C. when Persian kings ok captives to ensure the loyalty vassal states. The United States st encountered the phenomenon the end of the 18th century when Arbary pirates seized the crews of erican vessels and held them for ngomn, The current Lebanese wave of bstage-taking is an outgrowth of the civil war that has pitted that Puntry’s principal = graups—- Ghristians, Sunni Moslems, Shiite loslems, Druze and Palestinian fugees—against each other. At Gfferent times since the kidnap- flings began in July 1982, ail of ilese groups have taken hostages, fost of them Lebanese citizens. [Repending on circumstances, they ve been encouraged and abetted the radical Arab states seeking iffluence in Lebanon: Iran, Syria ad Libya. By far the most active have been ¢ Shiites, who are believed to be the largest of the feuding religious ctions among Lebanon's 3.5 mil- Vpn peopte. Historically, the Shiites, ho are concentrated in southern. ebanon from the Israeli border brth to the densely packed south- Mohtashemi’s remarks stood in contrast to conciliatory words of President Ali Akbar Hashemi Raf- sanjani. The new president said Friday that fran was willing to help in the hostage stalemate if the United N Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CPRRAARR96]00789RO00Z POY RICH TB ern slums of Berrul, also have been the most politically, economically and socially dinadvantaged of Leb- anon’s population groups. Theic sense of alienation is re- flected in the name chosen by the principat Shiite political movement and its militia military arm: Amal. which means Movement of the De- prived, But Amal’s claims to lead- ership of the Shiite population have been challenged increasingly in the 1980s by the Hezbollah movement, whose devotion to the extremist attitudes of the Tehran government has won a sizable following, pattic- ularly among the street guamen and militia fighters produced in great numbers by years of civil strife, The experts say Hezbollah has created a climate ripe for exploita- tion by the Iranian government, with its drive to replace Western influence in the Middle East with political and social ideas based on fundamentalist Shiite theology. For years, Iran has encouraged the Shiite groups engaging in kid- napping and other terrorism. Most of the money used by groups linked under the Hezbollah banner comes from Tehran, analysts say. The Iranian Revolutionary Guarda who are known to help train Shiite ex- tremists in camps in Lebanon’s Bekaa valley also come (com Teb- . olNCials say that in 1987 the United States intercepted radio messages from Tehran ordering its Lebanese agents to kidnap Amer- ican journalist Charles: Glass, who later was released. However, U.S. Officials and other experts add, while Iranian influence is consider- able, Tehran does not have totai control over the Lebanese groups and often is unable to order the dis- position of hostages according to Tehran's whims of the moment. In some cases, hostages have been released to satisfy a political need at the time such as the secret U.S. supply of military equipment to Tran revealed in the Iran-contra scandal. [n other cases, hostages have disappeared without a trace, their months or years spent being shuttled between Beirut slums and the Bekaa camps so they cannot be rescued. Since 1982, at least 130 foreign- ers have been taken hostage. Of these, 97 were released of escaped. Sixteen, including eight Americans, are still prisoners or unaccounted for. And the apparent killing of Hig- gins brings to 14 the hostages be- lieved to have died in the shadowy struggle played by people about whom so little is known. States proved sensible in its ap- proach. Ina letter to Hezbollah, which the group released to Western news agencies, Mohtashemi described Obeid’s abduction as an unforgivable act of “terrorism” and a “crime.” PYRGHT