European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday. October 23,1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 shiite Leader denounces kidnappers Beirut Lebanon a shiite moslem Leader Nabih Bern lashed out saturday at kidnappers holding foreign hostages and threatening to Hurt the Ameri cans saying thai the kidnapping was an unforgivable  Bern who Heads the mainstream shiite amal Mili Tia spoke in an interview with the associated press after the islamic jihad a pro iranian fundamentalist action threatened to punish its . Hostages in retaliation for Friday s israeli raid or Lebanon. Bern s syrian backed militia in the past has had no influence on the kidnappers. It has been locked in a fierce struggle with pro iranian fundamentalists for domination of the shiite Community. Bern also hailed the suicide car bombing that killed seven israeli soldiers in South Lebanon on wednesday prompting attic air raid on guerrilla bases in South and cast Lebanon sixteen people were killed and 34 wounded in the israeli attack Friday. The car bombing in Israel s self designated Security zone two Days earlier also wounded eight soldiers and two lebanese women. It s not a question of revenge h is an ongoing War Between us and Israel. The resistance should respond in double strength and maintain its jihad holy War Bern said. But he said . Support for Israel should not Lead to punishing the hostages we arc against America s policy against America support of Israel and against the american administration. But we Are no at All against la american Citi Zens he said. He said the kidnapping was an unjustified unforgivable  the kidnappers Berri added have inflicted the most severe damage to their goals and the goals of their  that was an indirect reference to Iran Nablgh Bert. Unforgivable crime which is believed to be the main supporter of the kid nappers. In its statement on Friday the islamic jihad which holds at least two american hostages Terry ande Sonand Thomas Sutherland accused the United states of giving Advance approval to the israeli air strike. Ii said the criminal America must realize it will not gel away with what it has done especially in connection with the hostages we hold so hat will be a lesson to whoever strikes at the dignity and glory four people and Mujaheddin holy warriors Bern refused to say if he believed the kidnappers would actually Hurt Anderson 40, the chief Middle East correspondent for the associated press and Sutherland 57, acting Dean of agriculture at the Ameri can University of Beirut. Ask hem the kidnappers he said. Anderson is the longest held foreign hostage in Leb anon. He was kidnapped March 6, 1985. Sutherland was seized three months later. Asked if he believes the 14 foreign hostages held in Lebanon would be released soon he said that would happen Only if deals were struck Between the Kidnap pers and the hostages  no Deal no release Bern  captives include nine americans three britons an irishman and an italian. Most of them Are believed held by shiite factions operating under different names under the umbrella of Hezbollah or party of god the main militia challenging the influence of Barri s amal among Lebanon s , who also is Justice minister in Lebanon s dual government described the car bombing of the israeli Convoy As a shining Star in the sky of the resistance against the israeli occupation of South  it is our right 1o struggle for the liberation of our land he said. Woman carrying hostage photos arrested Milan Italy a authorities arrested a lebanese woman who was carry ing pictures of three americans held hos Tage in Lebanon and a letter from one of them in a false Bottom in her suitcase police said saturday. The woman slopped thursday at Milan s Linale Airport was carrying photos of Terry Anderson Thomas Sutherland and Alann Slenn said Fon Nalo Finoli Deputy director of the Milan police anti terrorist unit. He said the photographs were to be Given to an italian businessman who was not identified. She also carried a Handwritten letter signed by Stern he said. She was arrested and charged with carrying $1,000 in counterfeit . Bills and 50 Grams of heroin Finotti said. A . Embassy spokesman contacted by Telephone said officials there had been informed about the incident. Yes we arc aware of it. It s in italian hands said the spokesman who re Quested anonymity. When asked if the italian businessman had any connection with the . Government he said we re not saying a thing about  police refused to say who was to ultimately receive the pictures and documents or Why. The woman arrived on a Middle East airlines Light from Beirut and her suit Case was examined thoroughly As were those of Many other lebanese Passen Gers police said. Police also questioned the business Man who was waiting for the woman at the Airport but they freed him because he committed no crime according to Finoli. It was not Clear when the targe Black and White head shots of the three hos tages had been taken Finoli said adding that police were examining them. It also was not known when the letter from Stern was written he said. The letter was addressed to the italian businessman and simply expressed thanks to everyone who was working for his Steen s liberation Finoli said. He said the woman a Maronic Cath Olic identified As Aline Ibrahim Rizkal Lah 36, apparently worked As a courier Tor people in Lebanon. She told police she knew nothing about the photos or documents. The woman said the italian business Man was supposed to give her Money but when asked the Man denied it police said. Finoli refused to elaborate on the ital Ian s identity saying Only that he was from the Northern pan of the country and was Well known for other  the other documents in the woman s Luggage were written in italian but were in a kind of code that police were trying to decipher Finoli said. They did not mention the hostages he said. Finoli refused to release any More de tails. The arrest occurred before the islamic jihad threatened to Hurt the hostages in retaliation for an israeli air raid on Leb anon on Friday. Islamic jihad a pro iranian Funda mentalist faction is believed to hold an Derson and Sutherland while Slenn s abduction has been claimed by the pro iranian islamic jihad for the liberation of Palestine. Anderson chief Middle East correspondent for the associated press is the longest held foreign hostage in Lebanon. He was kidnapped March 16,1985. Sutherland acting Dean of agriculture at the american University of Beirut was abducted three months later. He is from fort Collins Colo. Slenn of Boston was kidnapped jan.24, 1987, from Beirut University col lege where he taught. They arc among nine americans believed held by pro iranian extremist factions linked to Hezbollah or party of god. Others believed held Are three Bri tons an irishman and an italian. S. Africa unvers armoured vehicle South Africa s new Rool Kat or Lynx plows Over Dune. Pretoria South Africa a South Africa one of the world s leading arms producers and Export ers unveiled an eight wheeled armoured vehicle sat urday designed to meet the country s need for highly Mobile weapons. Defense minister Magnus Milan announced the Rookal the afrikaans word for a Lynx in a speech delivered four Days before nationwide municipal elections. The Rookal has less firepower than a tank but it is far More agile a Basic requirement for the High mobility warfare thai has characterized the country s major military operations in such places As Angola. In August South african forces withdrew from an Gola where they were fighting alongside the anti marxist Unita rebels. The Roo Kat has a 76mm gun can reach a Speed of 75 Mph and can travel 623 Miles without refuelling the military said. The vehicle is in production and is expected to be in use in the South african defense Force by late 1989. The military demonstrated the vehicle Friday to journalists outside Pretoria but embargoed All stories until after Malan s speech. Malan predicted that the Roo Kat would be a much sought after product on the highly competitive International arms  the Roo Kat was designed by the government run armaments corp. Of South Africa which has made South Africa one of the world s lop 10 exporters of weapons in the past decade. The government established arms Cor after the United nations placed an International embargo on weapons sales to South Africa in 1977. At that Lime South Africa imported virtually All its major weapons. Arms Cor expects to have si.2 billion in sales this year and Sells its products to 32 countries worldwide . Vanvuuren executive managing director of arms Cor said Friday. Arms Cor docs not say to which countries it Sells weapons. The Roo Kat was locally developed and completely locally produced said Vanvuuren adding that More than 100 South african companies Are involved in manufacturing the vehicle