/ Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002000760002-5 Weather ; ‘Today: Sunny. High 50. Low 94-36. Winds west 10-15 mph. Tuesday: Partly sunny. High around 50. Winds light. Yesterday: Temperature range 21-39, Details on Page B2. 1107H YEAR} eens No. 10.-* \ © 1986, The Washington Post Company Nicaragua Holding © American as Spy | Prisoner Said to Be Congressman’s Brother By Edward Cody Washington Post Foreign Service MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Dec. “14—The Nicaraguan government has arrested as a suspected spy an American who is believed to be an Ohio congressmen’s brother. The American, whose U.S. pass- port identified him as Sam Nesley Hall, 49, was arrested Friday morn- ing near the Punta Huete miitary airfield, about 12 miles north of Ma- nagua, Sandinista officials an- nounced Saturday night. A spokesman for Rep. Tony P. - Hall (D-Ohio) said today he believes the captive is Hall’s brother, a self- styled counterterrorism expert who the aide said has been a mercenary in Angola and Rhodesia, now Zim- babwe. Hall, who has yet to be charged ‘formally, joined Eugene Hasenfus as a prisoner of the Sandinistas, ac- cused of illegal ‘activities in Nicara- gua in support of Reagan adminis- - tration policy against the Managua government, Hasenfus, from Mari- nette, Wis., was sentenced Nov. 15 to a 30-year prison term for his ac-. knowledged role in delivering arms, to U.S.-financed anti-Sandinista; forces. The Reagan administration de- nies any connection to the rebel: supply operation. State Department spokesman. Bruce Ammerman, said it is impos-: | sible to identify the detainee or his: job because the Sandinista govern-. ment has refused to permit the U.S. consul general in Managua to visit, him. Ammérman said he had no in- formation on whether a Sam Hall worked for any part of the U.S, gov- ernment. Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Mi-' guel d’Escoto told reporters Satur- day night that Hall admitted spying on Sandinista targets for a previ- ously unheard-of private U.S. grou called the Phoenix Battalion. There - was no description of this group or -its leadership, nor whether Hall’s claim about it was being taken se- riously by Sandinista authorities. D’Escoto said Hall was captured with sketches and maps hidden in his socks. Hall first claimed to be a - writer, the minister related, but lat- Aimed at UNITEO PRESS NA Sam Hall, brother of Rep. Tony P. Hall (D-Ohio) and thought tobe captive, in 1985 photo. er admitted that he was gathering - intelligence for the private group. According to D’Escoto, Hall said the Phoenix Battalion specializes in military. espionage in consonance with U.S. policy. . The Punta Huete airfield wa constructed during the past two See NICARAGUA, A383, Col. L Press Curbs Black lacayps ® Afiira’e Ratha The Cen has been with detail data from reconnaiss: sist Iraqi b terminals ; war betwe cording to: The info to Iraq for the same p istration w to Iran in American | gain influe Iranian gov In Augu the initiati ing a direc! Baghdad li with bette lite infor firsthand k receive th ellite phot bombing : _damage at This sour informatio: duct of the CIA Di met twice ‘ber and a senior Ira the new | and to en Iranian in said. Iraq has cision air recent mo terminals, nower play