Lebanon The Taking of a Journalist

Two years ago ABC Television Correspondent Charles Glass was the envy of his colleagues for his up-close coverage of the TWA hostage drama at Beirut International Airport. Last week Glass, who is on a leave of absence from ABC, became a victim of Lebanese terrorists. On a scruffy seaside road, less than a mile from that same airport, Glass, 36, was ambushed by four carloads of bearded gunmen. After being struck with rifle butts, he was stuffed into the trunk of one of the assailants' autos. Dragged off with him was Ali Osseiran, 40, son of Lebanese Defense Minister Adel Osseiran, and their bodyguard- | driver. Glass became the ninth U.S. citizen and 24th foreigner to be held hostage in Lebanon.

No Lebanese faction took responsibility for the abduction. Nonetheless, it was widely assumed the thugs were members of Hizballah, the radical, pro- Iranian Shi'ite Muslim group that is suspected of involvement in most of the kidnapings that have occurred in Lebanon. Glass, who has spent a total of six years in Lebanon and was researching a book on the Middle East, was traveling near a husseiniyeh, or religious center, run by Hizballah when he was taken.

The abduction was a particular embarrassment to Syrian President Hafez Assad, whose forces ostensibly control the Muslim half of Beirut. Glass was the first person to be kidnaped since 7,500 Syrian troops entered the city on Feb. 22, and to make matters worse, Syrian troops manned a checkpoint just 350 yds. from where the abduction took place. Moreover, the elder Osseiran, head of a powerful Shi'ite clan in Lebanon, is an important Syrian ally in Lebanese politics. Assad's troops began an intensive search for the latest kidnap victims, but by week's end they had turned up no trace of Glass and his well- connected friend.