Envoy Reports Soviet Moves to Aid Hostages

BEIRUT —  A Soviet diplomat on Sunday said Moscow has joined in the flurry of diplomatic maneuvering to try to free Western hostages held by Shiite extremists who continue to insist that Israel release a Muslim cleric it seized.

The Soviet ambassador in Beirut, Vasily I. Kolotusha, said in a statement issued Sunday that “efforts to settle the hostage issue have been essentially pushed forward.”

“In response to a request by the United States, the Soviet Union has been conducting contacts with regional parties to help reach a political settlement to the hostages matter,” the statement said.

The Soviet envoy appeared to be hinting that Syria, Moscow’s main regional ally, and Iran, which has been seeking better Soviet relations, are being asked by the Kremlin to exert pressure on their Lebanese Shiite allies.