Swiss Red Cross Worker Seized in S. Lebanon

Gunmen abducted a Swiss employee of the International Red Cross from his car today in Sidon, and the PLO blamed enemies trying to discredit its newly proclaimed state of Palestine for the kidnaping.

No organization claimed responsibility.

Peter Winkler, 32, was taken from his car at 8:45 a.m. in Hisbeh Square in Sidon, provincial capital of south Lebanon, police said. They said there were unconfirmed reports that Winkler, who had been in Lebanon only a month, was taken to the Ein el Hilwa Palestinian refugee camp.

PLO and local militia officials said radical Palestinians may have kidnaped him to pressure Switzerland not to recognize the independent state proclaimed in the Israeli-occupied territories by the Palestine National Council, which acts as the PLO legislature.

Hard-line groups backed by Syria opposed the declaration because it involved acceptance of U.N. resolutions that implicitly recognize Israel.

Mock Air Attacks

Six hours after today’s kidnaping, Israeli warplanes staged mock attacks on Palestinian refugee camps on the southern fringe of Sidon.

Police said an olive-colored car without license plates carrying three men passed and stopped Winkler’s car at a main traffic circle. Two gunmen pulled Winkler from the front passenger seat, keeping their weapons pointed at his head. They pushed him into the back seat of their car, and the third assailant drove it away.