Greece Says Shias Are Holding Singer

ATHENS —  Greek folk singer Demis Roussos, 39, is being held by Shia Muslims somewhere in the Beirut region with his American-born secretary and about 10 other hostages from the hijacked TWA jetliner, the government said Monday.

A government announcement said Greece’s ambassador in Beirut is pressing for the release of Roussos and the secretary, Pamela Smith, 35, “because it comprises part of the initial agreement for the exchange of the hijacker, Ali Atwa.”

Greece yielded last week to the hijackers’ threats to kill Greek passengers aboard hijacked plane unless Atwa, their self-confessed accomplice, was freed.

Atwa, arrested at Athens airport Friday after being bumped from the flight that was later hijacked, was flown to Algiers on Saturday. In return, the hijackers freed 53 hostages, among them seven Greeks.