A Swede who saved Jews backed for US citizenship

The State Department endorsed honorary US citizenship for Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who some believe is still alive in a Soviet prison, to underscore its support for determining his fate.

"The conferral of honorary US citizenship on Wallenberg would serve to underscore the seriousness with which the American government and people view Soviet behavior in the Wallenberg case," it said.

But Assistant Secretary of State Richard Fairbanks said the department was unable to confirm that Mr. Wallenberg might still be alive.

Wallenberg was the secretary of Sweden's legation in Budapest in 1944 and '45 . He is credited with saving the lives of 1 00,000 Jews there.