European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Captive Anderson freed syrian official announces Damascus Syria a Terry Anderson the last american hostage in Lebanon was released by his shiite Muslim captors wednesday after 6 /2 years in Captivity and handed Over to syrian officials in Lebanon a syrian foreign ministry official said. The reported release of Anderson 44, appears to end the agonizing ordeal of the longest held Western hostage. Two germans Are still captives. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the associated press that Anderson was on his Way to Damascus under syrian escort and Anderson would be turned Over to . Ambassador Christopher Ross at about 10 . The syrian Convoy bearing Anderson on the Beirut to Damascus leg of his journey to Freedom was reported to have been forced by heavy Snow to use a longer route that took it to the syrian City of horns then to Damascus. In Washington a Bush administration official said he could not confirm Andersons release but added a they have told us to be at the foreign ministry in Damascus which is the usual sign. A in the past hostages have been handed Over to their own governments at the foreign ministry. The announcement by the syrian foreign ministry official came nearly 11 hours after the first report by Iran a official islamic Republic news Agency that Anderson had been released in Beirut. The Day of roller coaster reports about Andersons release mirrored Hopes and fears about his Fate throughout his 2,455-Day Captivity. Anderson chief a Middle East correspondent was the Best known of the captives and came to personify the Long running hostage drama. Anderson would be the third american hostage freed in three Days. Eight other westerners have been freed since August when the United nations launched negotiations involving a Complex Swap of Western hostages hundreds of arabs held by Israel and information about missing israeli servicemen. . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar said in new York that he believed Andersons arrival May have been delayed by Snow on the Road from Beirut to the syrian capital. A i am sure this is a technical problem a he said. Other hostages have taken Many hours to appear in Damascus after their release in Beirut. Despite the delay wednesday there was a mood of Calm and optimism among see Anderson on Page 2 Terry Andersons daughter Salome and her Mother Madeleine Bassill share their happiness in Damascus Syria Over the Prospect of Andersons release from  s brain permanently damaged by blow Joseph Cicippio right of Flag greets Well wishers with his wife Elham and sons Eric left and David at the . Air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden on wednesday. By Gary Pomeroy St sift writer Wiesbaden Germany a Alann Steen a brain suffered permanent neurological damage when Nis captors kicked him in the head four years ago his attending physician said wednesday. A this damage is most Likely from trauma resulting from a kicking he received while he was in Captivity a said or. Col Uwe Fohlmeister director of Hospital services at the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden. Quot this has left him with slight weakness incoordination and numbness in his right foot and  Steen has also had partial Complex seizures or Short lapses of consciousness As a result of the injury the doctor said. Despite the damage Steen a mental and psychological conditions Are very Good Fohlmeister said. A the has come to grips with this very Well a Fohlmeister said adding that he is a feeling Well and eating welf and after several Days of rest expects to resume a full Normal  the injuries to the 52-year-old occurred during 1987. A the was kicked hit the Wall had a blow on his head. And received basically a Large Bruise on his brain from that Quot Fohlmeister said. Steen who was released by his captors tuesday told the doctor that he did no to remember anything after hitting the Wall. In the week following the incident Steen had three a generalized seizures and he Felt very weak a the doctor said. Generalized seizures consist of chronic jerking of Steen limbs. The doctor could not say How Long each of Steen a episodes lasted. For several months after the injury to the left Side of his brain he had limited use of his right Side. A the received some medications a we done to know what kind a for several see Steen on Page 2