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Wednesday, November 12, 1986 / University Daily Kansan
News Briefs
freed hostages return to France; premier thanks Syria for help
PARIS — Two Frenchmen freed by Shiite Muslim kidnappers after months of captivity in Lebanon came home yesterday and were greeted by Premier Jacques Chirac, who thanked Syria for helping arrange the release.
Camille Sontag, 85, and Marcel Coudari, 54, were released in west Beirut Monday night and turned over to French envoys in Damascus, Syria, less than 12 hours later.
When they arrived at Orly airport outside Paris, Chirac thanked Syria, Saudi Arabia and Algeria for helping arrange the release of the captives.
Coudari, when asked whether he had news of other French hostages, replied, "No. But I can tell you that things will happen soon." Asked if he was certain, Coudari said, "Well, yes, more or less, more or less."
He told reporters, citing "a pretty official source," that French hostage Michel Serat apparently died of natural causes. The pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim group Islamic Jihad announced March 5 that he had been killed.
Sontag came down the steps of the French jet into the arms of his 84-year-old wife, and they hugged and kissed as Chirc beamed. Blanche Sontag then fumbled in her handbag and handed a small object to her husband — apparently a replacement for the hearing aid broken during his abduction.
Earlier in Damascus, both men looked well after their ordeal, but the white-haired Sontag appeared frail and nervous. He was supported by two burly Syrian officials when he walked into a chandeliered room in the Syrian Foreign Ministry for yesterday's handover formalities.
Coudari, a businessman, and Sontag, a retired auto dealer, were two of the five Frenchmen Syria has helped free this year.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — University students yesterday hurled rocks and insults at President Jose Napoleon Duarte, burned Uncle Sam in effigy and set fire to a U.S. flag in one of the nation's worst anti-U.S. protests in years.
Salvadorans protest Duarte visit
“Duarte, murderer,” shouted some 500 students of the National University. “Crucify him,” they chanted.
Duarte was visiting the university to evaluate damage to the campus in last month's earthquakes, but the visit was cut short when the disturbances began.
began. The protesters stoned Duarte's security cars, smashing the rear window of one. No injuries were reported.
The students also trampled on a paper U.S. flag before setting it on fire and torched a puppet of Uncle Sam holding the green flag of Duarte's Christian Democratic party.
Authorities called the demonstration one of the worst anti-U.S. demonstrations in several years.
Duarte is one of Central America's staunchest U.S. allies. The government receives $1.5 million in U.S. military and economic aid.
nary and ecclesiastical Duarte was visiting the university to evaluate damage to the campus from last month's earthquakes. He met with university authorities in a tent, a temporary replacement for damaged administration buildings.
The students chanted insults at Duarte and tried to block his path as he walked to visit one of the damaged buildings. Duarte, flanked by bodyguards, pushed his way through the protesters and went to another building.
building.
Duarte and his entourage left the campus as the crowd swarmed around him and his security personnel.
As he left, a small group of students threw sticks and stones at the presidential caravan and beat on the cars with poles.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua — A Nicaraguan court began deliberations yesterday in the trial of Eugene Hasenfus, who is facing 30 years in prison on charges of running guns to U.S.-backed rebels. A verdict is expected Friday.
Hasenfus verdict expected soon
Hasenfus, a 45-year-old ex-Marine from Marinette, Wis., is charged with terrorism, criminal association and violation of public security laws. The maximum penalty is 30 years in prison if Hasenfus is convicted on all charges.
Hasenfus has asked for mercy from the court, which has a conviction rate of nearly 100 percent.
Hasenus was captured by Nicaraguan troops Oct. 6, one day after parachuting from a C-123 cargo plane shot down as it ferried 10,000 pounds of guns and other military hardware to U.S.-supported rebels — known as contras — battling to overthrow Managua's leftist government.
A Nicaraguan, identified as a radio operator, and two U.S. crew members were killed in the crash of Hasenus' plane. Hasenus earlier said the flight was part of an operation out of EI Salvador's lopango air base and was run by the CIA. He later said he was not sure whether the CIA was involved.
Defense attorney Enrique Sotlo Borgen charged yesterday the case against his client is "faulty," but he said he plans no further action before the verdict is issued.
Japan has record trade surplus
TOKYO — Japan posted a record $4.99 billion trade surplus with the United States in October, despite the dramatic rise in the value of the yen, the Finance Ministry said yesterday.
A rise in Japan's imports from the European Com-
mounty eased its imbalance with the 12-nation trading community.
But in trade with its largest customer, the United States, Japan's surplus — the number of exports exceeding the number of imports — climbed to a new monthly record of $4.99 billion. This increase occurred despite a 24.2 rise in exports to the United States to a record $7.5 billion.
U. S. Commerce Department statistics, which always differ slightly from those of its trading partners, show that through September the United States is in good trade in goods from Japan that it exported to that country.
Finance Ministry officials cited the effect of the strong yen — meaning that Japanese exporters receive more yen when they exchange foreign currency payments for their goods. Japan's dramatically lower crude oil prices also contribute to the nation's persistent imbalance.
Apparent overload sinks ferry
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A 56-foot ferry boat sank off Haiti's western coast yesterday, at least 180 people drowned and 20 were rescued, the U.S. Embassy reported.
Jefrey Litle, an embassy spokesman, said he received the information from the Haitian navy.
Radio Soilel, a Roman Catholic station in Port-au-Prince, reported last night that their correspondent on the island of Gonave, 30 miles west of the capital, reported the vessel apparently was overloaded.
Government officials said the ferry, the Oklele, left on its daily trip between Port-au-Prince and Gonave but radiated an SOS between noon and 1 p.m. The distress signal was picked up on Gonave, they said, and rescue vessels were dispatched and picked up the survivors.
The exact position of the sinking was not known, but it was believed to have been close to Gonave.
From Kansan wires.
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