Kennedy draws US fire over hostage proposal

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy suggested Wednesday that the US hostages in Iran could be released to a third country before a proposed UN investigation on the deposed Shah was begun. The White House immediately attacked Senator Kennedy's recent hostage statements as "irresponsible" and "obnoxious." He told reporters as he campaigned for the Feb. 26 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary that the hostages could be released to the United States once any commission began its investigation.