GROUP SAYS U.S. HOSTAGE ILL, OFFERS SWAP
Kidnappers of four professors, three
American and one Indian, said U.S. Hostage Alann Steen was ill
and offered to free him in exchange for a hundred detainees in
Israel.
    "U.S. Spy Alann Steen began to suffer from illness, his
health might deteriorate and he might die in 10 days," said a
hand-written statement by Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of
Palestine delivered to Beirut's independent An-Nahar newspaper.
    "Our humanitarian motives require that we free him for 100
detainees in the occupation jails," said the statement, which
was accompanied by a photograph of Steen.
 REUTER
