Emissary Awaits Word on American Hostages

BEIRUT — Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s troubleshooter, kept to his Beirut hideaway on Friday, waiting for a coded message to meet the kidnapers of four Americans he is seeking to free.

The emissary made no contact with the press. The day before, he appealed to reporters and television crews to leave him alone because his mission has reached a “critical and dangerous stage.”

But he did speak by telephone to Lambeth Palace, Archbishop Robert A.K. Runcie’s seat in London, saying he was waiting for assurance of the “authenticity of the people with whom he is speaking.”