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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 6, 1990                   TAG: 9003061894
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:  WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

WHITE HOUSE: NO HOSTAGE RELEASE NEAR

The White House said Monday that there are no grounds for expecting the imminent release of U.S. hostages in Lebanon, though "there is a lot happening" in behind-the-scenes efforts.

White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said many people - excluding U.S. government officials - are involved in discussions around the world on behalf of the hostages.

The intermediaries include businessmen, diplomats of other countries, representatives of the hostage families and their employers and people who have contacts in Iran and Lebanon, he said.

Often, they represent themselves as representing the United States, "but that is not the case," Fitzwater said.

"Many of them have had contacts with the U.S. government," he said. "They have told us what they are doing, they have asked us for advice. "We cannot say that there is any movement," he said. "We know of no imminent release."

Fitzwater underscored that the United States is ready to talk directly with Iran about the hostages "whenever Iran is ready to do so."

So far, he said, Iran has not shown any interest. Iran is believed to exert considerable influence over Hezbollah, an umbrella group of Shiites believed to hold some of the Americans in Lebanon.

Eighteen Westerners are being held in Lebanon. They include eight Americans, four Britons, two West Germans, two Swiss, an Irishman and an Italian. Most are believed held by Shiite Moslem factions loyal to Iran. The longest-held is Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, who was kidnapped March 16, 1985.

by CNB