European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 07, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Germany won t Swap for hostages by de Reavis staff writer Bonn Germany a the German government will not free two Arab terrorists serving prison sentences for the two German hostages still being held in Lebanon a spokesman for the foreign ministry said thursday. A the government has repeatedly said that it was not considering such a Trade. The claim to the contrary by a top iranian Diplomat this week has not changed that decision a the spokesman said. He was referring to Iran a first Deputy foreign minister All Besharati who was quoted earlier this week As saying that Bonn would move toward freeing the imprisoned Hamadi Brothers once the German hostages were freed. The German hostages Heinrich Striebig so and Thomas Kemptner 30, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in separate incidents in May 1989. The spokesman said a . Representative assured German foreign minister Hans Dietrich Genscher this week that a the United nations does no to consider the hostage problem solved until Striebig and Kemptner Are  the spokesman said the Bonn government is still working behind the scenes to free the men. Striebig and Kemptner worked for a humanitarian Relief group in palestinian refugee Camps near Saida in Southern Lebanon when they were seized. A they ignored a number of appeals from us to get out of Lebanon a the spokesman said. A this led to speculation in some of the Media that the men were not genuine hostages. We believe they Are. We also believe they could be held by members of the Hamadi  the German Media has reported that Radical shiites muslims in the Middle East have demanded the release of the Hamadi Brothers in Exchange for the germans. But the German government has denied Contact by the kidnappers. Mohammed Ali Hamadi a lebanese shiite Muslim was Given a life sentence by a Frankfurt court in 1989 for his role in the 1985 hijacking of Twa flight 847 and. The murder of . Navy Petty offi a cer 2nd class Robert Dean Stethem. His older brother Abbas received a 13-year prison term from a Disseldorf court the same year for his role in kidnapping two German businessmen to pressure the German government into releasing Mohammed Ali Hamadi. They were released during the course of the the latter a trial. Hans Burkhardt Steck defense lawyer for Mohammed Hamadi said thursday he knew of no impending Deal involving his  least 17 die in pileup on Spain Highway Bilbao Spain apr at least 17 people were killed in a 25-vehicle pileup Friday on a fog shrouded Highway filled with spaniards heading out of town on a Long weekend an official said. The spokesman for the Basque regional government said at least 40 people were injured in the Accident. He said the death toll was expected to Rise As Rescue workers finished searching through the pile of twisted Metal. The pileup occurred about 12 Miles East of Bilbao in Spain a Northern Basque Region. The spokesman who is customarily not identified said the mountainous four Lane stretch that links Bilbao and the neighbouring City of san Sebastian was dry and free of Snow when the Accident occurred about 10 45 . Central european time. A it was in a Valley filled with intense fog a the spokesman said. The pileup occurred in the eastbound lanes. A the scene is terrible lots of burned bodies can be seen through the windows a said the spokesman. A a it a the worst in be Ever  a similar disaster occurred nov. 29 about 100 Miles Southeast of san Francisco when 17 people died in a 93-vehicle pileup during a dust storm. Three people from that Accident remained in critical condition thursday. Traffic conditions on the Basque Highway were heavy but not much worse than on a typical weekend the spokesman said. He said it was not known what triggered the Accident or exactly How Many cars were involved. According to a recent european Community study Spain is the third most dangerous country in which to drive in the 12-member dec after Greece and Portugal. Wii anniversary russian president Boris a Yeltsin right follows the the 50th Anne Versay of the Battle of Moscow in which Honor guard carrying a Wreath to the Tomb of the in red army troops turned Back Nad battalions at the known Soldier in Moscow. Soviets on Friday marked outskirts of the soviet capital on dec 5,1941.despite troubles Bush expects to win in 92 Washington up with his popularity at an All time Low president Bush has predicted that even if the Economy remains sluggish next year he would win a second term a because in a a Good  in a bid to revive his sputtering presidency Bush named Samuel Skinner As his new chief of staff replacing John Sununu and tapped Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher to head his reelection Campaign. A a in a getting fired up about All this a Bush said thursday in holding his first news conference in a month. During the past four weeks his approval ratings have been dragged Down by the Economy to 46 percent his lowest Mark yet. Bush plans to formally announce his candidacy in january when he also will deliver his state of the Union address to Congress that will include a a new package of programs that will stimulate growth in the  a this Economy Isnit going to stay Down forever Quot said Bush who has been main Taining since last Spring that the nation has been climbing out of the recession. Bush named Skinner his transportation Secretary the past three years As chief of staff replacing the often abrasive Sununu who resigned under pressure tuesday amid complaints he had become a political liability. As expected Bush named a a a troika to Iun his re election Campaign Mosbacher pollster Robert Teeter and businessman Fred Malek. The president said Mosbacher will be the general Campaign chairman Teeter will serve As chairman and chief political strategist and that Malek would be the Campaign manager. Bush also announced that Charles Black a spokesman at the Republican National committee would serve As the campaigns senior adviser. Sounding feisty and confident Bush responding to a question from a reporter said a if the Economy is bad can i get reelected yes because in a a Good  jobless rate holding at 6.8% Washington a the nations unemployment rate remained at 6.8 percent in november even though employers Cut nearly a Quarter million jobs the government reported Friday. The jobless rate held at october a level the labor department said but another Survey by the Agency showed that payrolls tumbled by 241,000 jobs the bleakest one month plunge since this Spring when recession induced layoffs took 258,000 jobs in both february and March. The labor department said part of november a huge Job loss was caused by updated seasonal adjustments but estimated payrolls would have fallen by 170,000 jobs even without that adjustment. Most analysts had predicted Job losses of Only 35,000, while the Gloo Miest predictions estimated a 75,000 loss. The mass layoffs in november hit a Range of industries particularly construction and manufacturing. In addition hiring in department stores and other retail establishments was far Short of seasonal expect ions resulting in a huge employment decline after seasonal adjustment the labor department said. The household Survey showed that americans jobless totalled 8.5 million in november Down about 80,000 from october a total of 8.6 million. However the labor Force shrank by nearly 300,000, meaning Many people May have just abandoned the Job Hunt. The number of people holding jobs fell by 209,000, the household Survey showed