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DATE=10/12/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=HEZBOLLAH / ISRAELI SOLDIERS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-267813

BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN

DATELINE=BEIRUT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Diplomats intensified efforts Thursday to secure the release of three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas Saturday, and defuse the current crisis between Lebanon and Israel. U-N Secretary General Koffi Annan and Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi were in Beirut to help negotiate, as Edward Yeranian reports.

TEXT: Iranian Foreign Minister Kharazi, who arrived from Damascus late Wednesday, said initially that Hezbollah was demanding - in his words - the liberation of all prisoners and hostages being held by Israel - in exchange for the three Israeli soldiers taken captive by the Lebanese-based guerrillas.

Iran's foreign minister told journalists that exact terms of the exchange were up to Hezbollah, but that Iran also seeks the release of two Iranian diplomats, a journalist, and their driver, captured in Lebanon in 1982.

Meanwhile, U-N Secretary General Koffi Annan met with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, repeating U-N demands that Beirut deploy its army on the border with Israel to prevent further crisis.

Mr. Annan told journalists that Hezbollah's capture of the three Israeli soldiers was a violation of the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from Israel and was drawn by the U-N after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon last May.

/// ANNAN ACT ///

I have made it clear from the beginning that we will report violations regardless of who violated it. Our information is that the Blue Line, that those who picked up the three soldiers crossed the Blue Line and it is a violation.

/// END ACT ///

The Secretary General added that so far no one has visited the three Israelis, but Hezbollah should allow the International Red Cross or U-N personnel to visit them without any conditions.

/// ANNAN ACT // OPT ACT ///

As far as I know, that the International Red Cross has not seen them. I have made a request that access should be given to the International Red Cross, or one of my representatives, to see them, to be able to indicate that they are well and that they are being well looked after. And I think the Red Cross under its mandate has a right to visit individuals in those conditions without any conditions and I hope that request will be honored.

/// END ACT // END OPT ACT ///

The Secretary General is also meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Kharazi and Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in an attempt to move negotiations forward. (Signed)

NEB/EY/GE/RAE