World IN BRIEF : LEBANON : 4 Hostages Released, Nidal Group Claims

The Revolutionary Council of Fatah, headed by terrorist mastermind Abu Nidal, said it has released four Belgian hostages in a “friendly Arab country” and that they will be handed over to Belgium within 48 hours. Spokesman Walid Khaled said the four, seized in 1987, are being swapped for a Palestinian jailed in Belgium. However, a spokesman for the Belgian Justice Ministry said “the government has not yet made any decision as regards the release of Nasser Saeed,” who is serving a life term for a 1980 grenade attack in Antwerp. The hostages are Emmanuel Houtekins, 45; his wife, Godlieve Kets, 51; son, Laurent, 20, and daughter, Valerie, 19.