Soviet adviser seeks release by Afghans

A senior Soviet adviser held by Afghan rebels for two months has appealed directly to Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev to help arrange his release, the leader of the rebels says.

The rebels have released copies of a letter apparently sent to Mr. Brezhnev from E. R. Okrimyuk, the Soviet Union's senior adviser on geology. Mr. Okrimyuk was kidnapped in Kabul in September by a rebel faction, which wants to exchange him for about 50 of its supporters held in Afghanistan.