It was a painful day for his relatives and friends.; "It's been like a big roller coaster ride about his release," Anderson's 36-year-old brother John said from his home in Ocala, Fla. "But that's the way it's been for almost seven years."; He was handed over to U.S. officials in Damascus after hours of delay apparently caused by snow in the mountainous terrain from Beirut, Lebanon.; Anderson, 44, was the third American hostage freed in three days, and his release ended an agonizing drama for the United States. Two Germans still are held in Lebanon, however, and U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar said his work would not be over until they are released.; He has led delicate negotiations involving a complex swap of Western hostages, hundreds of Arabs held by Israel and information about missing Israeli military personnel.; Eight other Westerners have been freed since August, when the United Nations launched negotiations involving a complex swap of Western hostages, hundreds of Arabs held by Israel, and information about missing Israelis. Two German hostages are still being held.; The secretary-general said at U.N. headquarters that no deal had been made by U.N. officials guaranteeing the hostage-takers immunity from retaliation.; In exchange for the hostage releases, the kidnappers were reported by Iran's Tehran Radio this week to have been promised that they would not be pursued by the United States, Germany or any other country.; Confusion about Anderson's whereabouts arose after a five-page Arabic-language statement from the Islamic Jihad group that held Anderson announced today he would be set free, but its wording was unclear as to whether he had already been released.; Anderson said in a videotaped statement released today by his captors to the Associated Press in Damascus that he was to be freed. The tape gave no indication of when that would happen.; American, Syrian and Lebanese officials initially said Anderson had been freed and turned over to Syrian troops in Lebanon. Later, however, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said, "We hope he will be released this evening -- the sooner the better."; The Syrians said Anderson would be handed over to U.S. Ambassador Christopher Ross at the Foreign Ministry.; Anderson's daughter, Sulome, born three months after he was kidnapped, was driven to the U.S. Embassy with her mother, Madeleine Bassil, by American officials. They had flown to Damascus from their home in Cyprus.; Despite the delay, there was a mood of calm and optimism among friends and relatives who gathered to greet Anderson in Damascus.; Anderson's estranged wife, Mihoko, and their 15-year-old daughter Gabrielle, who live in Tokyo, declined comment.; Anderson's release marks the end of the seven-year American hostage drama in Lebanon, which brought an outpouring of public support for the captives and put intense pressure on the Reagan and Bush administrations to get them out.; The hostage saga comes to an end for the United States amid changing political alignments in the Middle East after the Persian Gulf war and the end of the Cold War, moves by Iran to improve ties with Washington and skillful U.N. mediation.; The hostage-holders have in the past few years been isolated by the desire of Syria and Iran to improve ties with the West.; This week's releases follow by days Washington's payment to Iran of $278 million for weaponry impounded during the 1979-80 Tehran hostage crisis. The weapons and other Iranian assets were frozen by the United States in 1979. Tehran has in the past linked hostage releases to the return of those assets.; The two Germans still held are Thomas Kemptner and Heinrich Struebig. An Italian, Alberto Molinari, is missing, but reports say he is dead. The Germans were seized by Shiite militants seeking the release of Mohammed and Abbas Hamadi, brothers imprisoned in Germany on terrorism convictions.; Terry Anderson: chronology of captivity; 1985; March 16 - Anderson abducted on Beirut street by Islamic Jihad.; May 16 - First photo of Anderson in captivity released. Islamic Jihad warns of "catastrophic consequences" if Kuwait does not free terrorists.; June 7 - Anderson's daughter Sulome is born.; 1986; Feb. 15 - Anderson's father dies of cancer at age 69.; June 7 - Anderson's 46-year-old brother dies.; Oct. 3 - In a videotape, Anderson and hostage David Jacobsen urge Reagan to work hard for their release.; Nov. 2 - Jacobsen, freed after 17 months in captivity, says hostages "are in hell."; 1987; Nov. 26 -- Jacobsen says he has been told Anderson is being held again in chains and blindfolded 24 hours a day.; 1988; April 10 - Islamic Jihad threatens to kill the captives if any attempt is made to storm a hijacked Kuwaiti jetliner.; Aug. 18 -- Photo of Anderson issued with new demands: Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and compensation for reconstruction of Lebanon and Beirut.; Oct. 23 - Islamic Jihad threatens that the hostages will suffer if the group's demands are not met; Oct. 31 - In a videotape, Anderson says: " I find it difficult to keep my hope and courage high."; 1989; Oct. 24 - Islamic Jihad again demands the release of Shiite comrades jailed in Kuwait.; 1990; Feb. 9 -. Anderson's sister, Peggy Say, begins a new international tour to enlist support in winning her brother's freedom.; May 7 - Say is told by newly freed hostage Frank Reed that her brother was in good health during the time they were held together but he had not seen him since 1989.; Sept. 5 -- Anderson's 2,000th day in captivity.; 1991; March 13 - In the wake of Iraq's defeat in the gulf war, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker visits Syria to discuss the hostages. Syria reiterates that it will work for their release.; Oct. 6 - In a videotape, Anderson urges all parties to accelerate negotiations to free Western hostages and says hundreds of Arab prisoners deserve freedom, too.; Oct. 27 - Anderson's 44th birthday, his seventh in captivity.; Dec. 4 -- Anderson is released.; Associated Press
Terry Anderson, the last American hostage in Lebanon, walked free today of his pro- Iranian Shiite Muslim kidnappers. His released ended a brutal saga that kept 15 Americans in chains, left three dead and bedeviled two U.S. presidencies. A flurry of contradictory reports early in the day about Anderson's whereabouts mirrored the agonizing cycle of raised and dashed hopes for release from his 6.5-year ordeal. Anderson's capture brought an outpouring of public support for the captives and put intense pressure on the Reagan and Bush administrations to get them out.