Carter on Mideast Tour; Hostage Query Expected
ALGIERS, Algeria — Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Algiers on Monday at the start of a five-nation, private Middle East tour during which he is expected to seek information on U.S. hostages being held in Lebanon.
Carter publicly thanked Algeria for its help in securing the release of American hostages held by Iran during his presidency, the Algerian news agency APS said. Algeria was a mediator in negotiations.
“I had been waiting for years for the occasion of visiting Algiers and expressing, in the American people’s name, my deep thanks for the aid and assistance Algeria provided in the liberation of the (52) U.S. hostages in January, 1981,” he was quoted as saying.
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