Amal Says It Foiled Arms-for-Hostage Swap Between 2 Militias in Lebanon

BEIRUT — The Syrian-backed Amal militia said Friday that it foiled an attempt by Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas to trade a Western hostage for arms from a Christian militia, the Lebanese Forces.

However, spokesmen for Hezbollah and the Christians denied the claim, and the hostage was not identified by name or nationality. There are 9 Americans among 18 Western hostages held in Lebanon.

Amal’s claim came as Vernon A. Walters, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, arrived in Damascus, Syria.

State Department spokesman Charles Redman, in Washington, said Walters will discuss U.N. business and “is not there on a hostage mission, pure and simple.” However, he would not rule out the possibility that the envoy may try to recruit Syrian support for U.S. efforts to win freedom for Western hostages.

“As always, we continue to work hard on the question of the hostages,” Redman said. “We work at it with anyone who has influence; that includes Syria, among others.”

Syria reportedly has stepped up efforts recently to free the hostages, who are believed to be held in the slums of south Beirut where Amal and Hezbollah have been battling for more than two weeks.

The alleged arms-for-hostage deal was reported by Amal official Atif Aoun in a speech to Shia Muslims in the south Lebanon town of Zahrani. He did not give any details about the swap or how it was allegedly foiled.

Friday was the 15th day of street battles between the two Shia Muslim militias over control of the southern Beirut slums. Five people were reported killed and 15 wounded. More than 200 people have been killed since May 6.