Hostage’s Dying Brother Pleads for Last Reunion

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The gravely ill brother of an American reporter held hostage in Lebanon issued a videotaped appeal from his hospital bed for one last reunion between the two, pleading, “I don’t know how long I can hang on.”

Glenn Richard Anderson Jr., 46, who is suffering from cancer, recorded the tearful, 60-second message to the kidnapers Tuesday, recalling that his brother, Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, 38, was also a captive when their father died of lung cancer three months ago.

In the videotape, which family members said they hope will be shown on Lebanese television, Glenn said he wished only to live long enough to see his brother freed.

“I have made a vow I would not die until I saw Terry. That vow is getting very close to an end. Please release him. I wish to see him one more time. Please release him,” he said.

With intravenous tubes in his arms and a nurse at his bedside, Glenn cried several times while recording the appeal before a WHEC-TV camera. The Rochester station aired the message during its newscasts Tuesday night.

Peggy Say, sister of Terry and Glenn, said Glenn is suffering from lung disease, heart disease and cancer and is not expected to live long.

The videotaped appeal was the idea of Terry Anderson’s best friend, London Times reporter Robert Fisk and was designed to be shown in Lebanon, Say said.