Syria Working for Hostage Release, White House Says
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WASHINGTON — Syria, implicated by West Germany and Israel in terrorist plots, is working behind the scenes to help free five American hostages in Lebanon, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said today.
“The Syrian government does remain engaged in the effort to obtain the release of the hostages, and they continue to make an effort in this respect,” Speakes said. “The Syrian government obviously has influence in this matter, given its position in Lebanon.”
The statement followed a CBS News report that Syrian President Hafez Assad has intensified his efforts to win release of the hostages to blunt the building of anti-Syrian sentiment in the West.
German officials have claimed evidence of Syrian involvement in the bombing of the German-Arab Friendship Society in West Berlin, and Israel has charged Syrian complicity in an attempt to plant a bomb aboard an El Al airliner in London.
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