
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 18, 1990                   TAG: 9003182284
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A11   EDITION: FINAMETRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NICOSIA, CYPRUS                                 LENGTH: Short

HOSTAGE RELEASES FORESEEN

A senior Iranian official said in an interview published today that prospects for release of the Western hostages in Lebanon have never been better and that they may be freed this year.

Ali Mohammad Besharati, first deputy foreign minister, told the Tehran Times newspaper, "I can say that all the hostages may be released by next January."

Besharati's statement was the latest in a series about the hostages from ranking officials and the government-run media in Tehran over the past month.

The moderate faction led by President Hashemi Rafsanjani says the hostage issue is moving toward a solution, while the radical faction argues against releasing the captives.

The 18 Western hostages are believed held by Shiite Moslem groups more loyal to the radicals than the moderates. There are eight Americans, four Britons, two West Germans, two Swiss, an Irishman and an Italian.

The longest-held hostage is Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, who marked his fifth year in captivity Friday.

Besharati, who visited Lebanon recently, said he believes the chances for a hostage release are better than ever.

"I saw the situation there. And you know nothing is secret in Lebanon. On the basis of my observations I can say the chances for freedom for the hostages are brighter than at any time before," he said.

He said he did not expect a mass release.

"My analysis of the situation is that all the hostages may not be released at one time, but gradually," Besharati said.

by CNB