Early freedom for hostages seen
Paris
Iranian President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr said in an interview published Monday that the hostages held in the US Embassy in Iran could be released within a few days if an international commission were set up to examine the Shah's record. Mr. Bani-Sadr told the newspaper Le Monde that the United States should accept "our people's desire for independence. If they accept this fact, it would be easy for us to free the hostages quickly, perhaps even in the next few days."
Mr. Bani-Sadr indicated that Iran no longer required the return of the Shah -- as demanded by the students occupying the US Embassy -- to guarantee the release of the 50 American hostages. He also said that within a few days, his government might take over control of the hostages from the militants.