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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 14, 1990                   TAG: 9003143097
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DAMASCUS, SYRIA                                 LENGTH: Short

CARTER, ASSAD TO DISCUSS HOSTAGES

Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Syria today and said he expected to discuss the plight of foreign hostages in Lebanon when he meets with President Hafez Assad.

"It's obvious to me that the Syrian leaders are very eager to see the hostage question solved and so see the hostages released," Carter said.

The former president, who arrived from Egypt, was due to meet Assad before continuing his tour with visits to Jordan and Israel. Syria, with roughly 40,000 troops in Lebanon, is the main power broker in that war-ravaged country. But most of the hostages are believed to be held by groups influenced by Iran and at odds with Syria.

Recent statements by some Iranian leaders had raised hopes that a release might be imminent. But former Interior Minister Ali Akbar Mohtashemi recently denounced calls for the hostages to be freed.

by CNB