United Nations Secretary - General Javier Perez de Cuellar said American citizen Terry Anderson had been freed today by his Shiite Muslim captors and was safely in Syrian hands . Earlier in the day , it was not clear where Anderson was , despite reports from Arab and Western officials that he was released and turned over to the Syrians . Heavy snow delayed Anderson 's transfer from Beirut to Damascus , which caused the confusion about Anderson 's whereabouts . " The causes of this troubled episode are complex and difficult , " Anderson said in a statement . " It is these causes which must be redressed and eliminated . The holding of innocent people by anyone solves nothing . "
United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said American hostage Terry Anderson had been freed today by his Shiite Muslim captors and was safely in Syrian hands. Earlier in the day, it was not clear where Anderson was, despite reports from Arab and U.S. officials that he was released and turned over to the Syrians. Heavy snow delayed Anderson's transfer from Beirut to Damascus, which caused the confusion about Anderson's whereabouts. "The causes of this troubled episode are complex and difficult," Anderson said in a statement. "It is these causes which must be redressed and eliminated. The holding of innocent people by anyone solves nothing."