Waldheim criticizes Iran for treatment of hostages
| United Nations, N.Y.
UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim accused Iran of deplorable mistreatment of the American hostages. Mr. Waldheim issued a statement as reports multiplied of abuses inflicted on the hostages by their Iranian captors during their 444-day ordeal. Declaring himself deeply distressed, he said the abuse of the Americans was unacceptable by all international standards and was to be deplored.
At the same time, he indignantly denied a widely circulated report that he mishandled negotiations in Tehran last year for the release of the cap tives and made it harder for an accord to be reached.
