S
Shamis
Guest
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Nov. 25— Three hijackers holding 108 hostages aboard a Somali Airlines plane here tonight set a new deadline for Somalia to free a group of political prisoners. Otherwise, they said, they will blow up the plane.
It was the third time the hijackers had postponed their deadline since they commandeered the Boeing 707 Saturday as it flew from Mogadishu, the capital of neighboring Somalia, to Jidda, Saudi Arabia.
The hijackers told Ethiopian officials of their decision soon after the Somali Government issued a statement in Mogadishu rejecting the demands for the present but asking for more time to consider them.
The hijackers, said to be three Somali soldiers, have threatened to blow up the plane and kill all 108 people aboard if Somalia does not release 21 political prisoners, including seven youths the hijackers say are scheduled to be hanged for anti- Government activities, as well as a former Vice President, five former Cabinet Ministers and two army colonels.
The Somali Government said no executions had been scheduled for today. Although the Somali statement rejected the hijackers' demands, it added that ''no executions are envisaged.'' 'Extremely Outraged'
Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Lieut. Col. Goshu Wolde, said the hijackers were ''extremely furious, extremely outraged'' over the Somali statement rejecting their demands.
But according to a spokesman for the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, the hijackers ''reluctantly consented'' to extend the deadline until noon Monday (4 A.M. New York time).
There is one American aboard the plane, but United States Embassy officials have declined to identify him. The plane originally carried 130 passengers and crew, but 22 people - 15 women, 4 children and 3 crew members - were freed at the airport Saturday.
Colonel Goshu said the hijackers were led by a Somali Army officer, Capt. Awil Adnan Bourhan, and were armed with pistols and explosives.
The hijackers initially said they would blow the plane up at midnight Saturday if their demands were not met. That deadline was later extended until noon today. Eight minutes before that deadline, they agreed to give Somalia another 12 hours in response to a Somali request for more time to consider the demands.
The third postponement came 10 minutes before the midnight deadline.
The plane arrived at Bole International Airport here Saturday after being refused permission to land at Aden, Southern Yemen. Joined by 2 Passengers
Colonel Goshu said the three hijackers had been joined by at least two passengers who were said to be sympathetic to their goals.
This afternoon Somalia issued a statement saying the release of the political prisoners ''cannot be accepted because to do so would be tantamount to submitting to terrorist threats which would encourage terrorism throughout the world.'' The Somali Government also said it would hold Ethiopian authorities responsible for the hostages' safety.
Pro-Soviet Ethiopia and pro-Western Somalia fought a border war in 1977 over the Ogaden region and now have no direct diplomatic relations. Communications between the two are being conducted through the Italian Embassy, which sends them via Rome.
Western diplomats say the Ethiopian Government has supported Somali rebels and the Somali Government has backed Ethiopian rebels.
One crew member, a security guard, was wounded in the midair shootout that led to the takeover of the plane. The hijackers also reportedly beat the pilot, and the co-pilot fell ill.
The passengers released Saturday were shown on Ethiopian television and were reportedly put into the care of the Ethiopian Red Cross. Foreign journalists were not permitted to speak with them. The Foreign Minister said they were all well.
The Ethiopian Government has delivered food and provisions to the 108 passengers still on the plane and Colonel Goshu said he believed the hostages were in good condition.
The hijacked jet, parked just off the runway about 400 yards from the main terminal, is being guarded by Ethiopian soldiers and armored vehicles.
photo of hijacked plane
It was the third time the hijackers had postponed their deadline since they commandeered the Boeing 707 Saturday as it flew from Mogadishu, the capital of neighboring Somalia, to Jidda, Saudi Arabia.
The hijackers told Ethiopian officials of their decision soon after the Somali Government issued a statement in Mogadishu rejecting the demands for the present but asking for more time to consider them.
The hijackers, said to be three Somali soldiers, have threatened to blow up the plane and kill all 108 people aboard if Somalia does not release 21 political prisoners, including seven youths the hijackers say are scheduled to be hanged for anti- Government activities, as well as a former Vice President, five former Cabinet Ministers and two army colonels.
The Somali Government said no executions had been scheduled for today. Although the Somali statement rejected the hijackers' demands, it added that ''no executions are envisaged.'' 'Extremely Outraged'
Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Lieut. Col. Goshu Wolde, said the hijackers were ''extremely furious, extremely outraged'' over the Somali statement rejecting their demands.
But according to a spokesman for the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, the hijackers ''reluctantly consented'' to extend the deadline until noon Monday (4 A.M. New York time).
There is one American aboard the plane, but United States Embassy officials have declined to identify him. The plane originally carried 130 passengers and crew, but 22 people - 15 women, 4 children and 3 crew members - were freed at the airport Saturday.
Colonel Goshu said the hijackers were led by a Somali Army officer, Capt. Awil Adnan Bourhan, and were armed with pistols and explosives.
The hijackers initially said they would blow the plane up at midnight Saturday if their demands were not met. That deadline was later extended until noon today. Eight minutes before that deadline, they agreed to give Somalia another 12 hours in response to a Somali request for more time to consider the demands.
The third postponement came 10 minutes before the midnight deadline.
The plane arrived at Bole International Airport here Saturday after being refused permission to land at Aden, Southern Yemen. Joined by 2 Passengers
Colonel Goshu said the three hijackers had been joined by at least two passengers who were said to be sympathetic to their goals.
This afternoon Somalia issued a statement saying the release of the political prisoners ''cannot be accepted because to do so would be tantamount to submitting to terrorist threats which would encourage terrorism throughout the world.'' The Somali Government also said it would hold Ethiopian authorities responsible for the hostages' safety.
Pro-Soviet Ethiopia and pro-Western Somalia fought a border war in 1977 over the Ogaden region and now have no direct diplomatic relations. Communications between the two are being conducted through the Italian Embassy, which sends them via Rome.
Western diplomats say the Ethiopian Government has supported Somali rebels and the Somali Government has backed Ethiopian rebels.
One crew member, a security guard, was wounded in the midair shootout that led to the takeover of the plane. The hijackers also reportedly beat the pilot, and the co-pilot fell ill.
The passengers released Saturday were shown on Ethiopian television and were reportedly put into the care of the Ethiopian Red Cross. Foreign journalists were not permitted to speak with them. The Foreign Minister said they were all well.
The Ethiopian Government has delivered food and provisions to the 108 passengers still on the plane and Colonel Goshu said he believed the hostages were in good condition.
The hijacked jet, parked just off the runway about 400 yards from the main terminal, is being guarded by Ethiopian soldiers and armored vehicles.
photo of hijacked plane
