Archbishop credited with hostages pledge

THE IRANIAN pledge to release the three Anglican churchworkers who have been held there for the past five months was secured purely through the personal intervention of the Archbishop of Canterbury. a spokesman for the Church of England said this week.
The promise to free the Anglicans was given to Mr Terry Waite. the Archbishop's special envoy. during his Christmas visit to Tehran. Mr Waite, who returned to England last week. said that he had been able to tell two of the detainees, Dr John Coleman and his wife Audrey: "I understand that the charges (of spying) are to be dropped and that you are to be released soon." A similar promise has been made in the case of Miss Jean Waddell, who was also accussed of spying.
Asked whether Archbishop Hilarion Capucci had played any part in arranging Mr Waite's visit, the spokesman said: "No. Archbishop Capucci did not have anything to do with the visit. It came about through the personal plea of Archbishop Runcie to the Ayatollah Khomeini,"
Archbishop Capucci visited London last October in connection' with what he called a "personal humanitarian mission" on behalf of the Anglicans. He was due in -Iran over Christmas but apparently did not go there.