Waite to Be Ransomed Soon, Report Says

BEIRUT —  Church of England envoy Terry Waite, held hostage by Muslim extremists in Lebanon, “will be freed very soon” in exchange for a $5-million ransom, a pro-Syrian magazine said Saturday, adding that two West German hostages are also near freedom.

The weekly Al Shiraa magazine, which broke the story about secret U.S. arms shipments to Iran last November, said a deal has been worked out between a Lebanese leader and Waite’s captors.

The magazine also said the fact that American journalist Charles Glass gained his freedom last Tuesday after being held hostage for 62 days has paved the way for the liberation of two German hostages, Rudolph Cordes, 53, and Alfred Schmidt, 46, who are believed being held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon.

“The release of the German hostages will take place very soon after Syria’s contacts with Iran have succeeded in this respect,” Al Shiraa said without elaborating.

Seeking Others’ Freedom

Waite, an envoy of the Anglican Church who was in Lebanon seeking the release of Western hostages, including Americans Terry A. Anderson and Thomas Sutherland, vanished Jan. 20 after he left his hotel in Muslim West Beirut to meet the kidnapers of some of the hostages.

“Waite will be freed very soon in exchange for $5 million,” Al Shiraa said, adding that a prominent Lebanese leader had negotiated on Waite’s behalf. It quoted reliable sources in Muslim West Beirut.

The magazine did not identify the leader, but Lebanese militia sources hinted that it could be Druze chieftain Walid Jumblatt, who recently met with Iranian and pro-Iranian officials, including Sheik Sobhi Tofeili, a key leader of the Hezbollah (Party of God) group that is believed to be holding Waite as well as other foreign hostages.

Jumblatt, whose Progressive Socialist Party militia was in charge of Waite’s security at the time of his disappearance, lately has increased his contacts with Iranian officials and Hezbollah leaders in Beirut.

Senior Lebanese militia sources also said a deal for Waite was under discussion.

However, in London, a spokesman for the Church of England said the church knew nothing of a deal to buy Waite’s freedom.

“We’re certainly not involved in any payment, and we have no reason to believe (the report) is true,” spokesman John Little said.

Kadafi Vows to Help

Meanwhile, the official Libyan news agency JANA said Saturday that Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi has promised to help secure Waite’s freedom. The news agency, monitored in Beirut, said Kadafi received an Anglican Church representative identified only as Dr. Leith, who appealed to him to intervene for Waite’s release.

Kadafi told the representative he would “work for peace and do his best for the release of Waite,” according to the news agency.

In London, Anglican church spokesman Little said he was not familiar with Leith and was unaware of any formal approaches to Kadafi.

“It’s possible he may be an Anglican, but he is certainly not representing (the Church) or the Archbishop of Canterbury,” he said, adding that any efforts by Kadafi to help locate Waite would be welcome.

“Help from any quarter is fine, though in this case, I don’t quite know what that help would be,” he said.

There are at least 24 foreigners, including eight Americans, who are still missing and believed being held hostage in Lebanon.