Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Waite dismisses 'speculation' on Beirut contacts Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 14:59:57 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD Waite dismisses 'speculation' on Beirut contacts \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT LONDON LONDON (AP) - Former Beirut hostage Terry Waite said yesterday that "half-informed speculation" about contacts he made in the Middle East while trying to secure the release of Western hostages was dangerous. Mr. Waite was responding to reports in the Sunday Telegraph and other British newspapers that the former Church of England envoy had worked with Ian Spiro, whom the reports called an intelligence agent in the Middle East, to meet with leaders of the factions that kidnapped Westerners in Beirut in the 1980s. Mr. Spiro has been missing since his wife and three children were found dead Thursday in their home outside San Diego. California police said the 46-year-old businessman is a suspect in the slayings. The Sunday Telegraph reported that California investigators were looking into the possibility that the family was killed by an Arab hit squad seeking revenge for Mr. Spiro's intelligence activities. The newspaper said Mr. Spiro worked for the CIA and British intelligence for nearly 10 years in the Middle East, before retiring and moving to Southern California. Mr. Waite said he had received numerous requests to comment on reports that Mr. Spiro helped to arrange meetings for him with leaders of Islamic Jihad, one of the groups involved in kidnapping Westerners in Lebanon. "Because of the volatile complexity of the situation, it is hardly surprising that rumors continue to circulate regarding individuals who were alleged to be connected with the hostages," Mr. Waite said in a statement. "The situation was and continues to be highly dangerous. Half-informed speculation can only increase the danger for others," Mr. Waite said. He refused to elaborate about who was in danger. The 53-year-old Mr. Waite, who is writing a book about his experiences, was involved in negotiations for the release of American hostages held in Beirut. He was abducted himself in January 1987 and held until his release in November 1991. In his statement, Mr. Waite said he had met with "hundreds of people prior to my first face-to-face meeting with the kidnappers in Beirut." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM