TI   "Russian Helicopter Kidnappers Didn't Have AIDS"
 AU   Bennett, Vanora
 SO   Reuters (12/29/93)
 AB   Moscow--Kidnappers who were arrested after a four-day Russian drama
      in which they demanded $10 million and free passage to Iran because
      they needed to seek medical treatment for AIDS infection lied about
      having the virus, reported the Interfax news agency on Wednesday. 
      "None of the four terrorists who seized 13 hostages in Rostov-on-Don
      on December 24 had AIDS," said the agency.  Also according to
      Interfax, officials at the Interior Ministry said that all four men
      had undergone exhaustive medical tests since being arrested and all
      were found to be "perfectly healthy."  The gunmen had claimed the
      reverse, telling hostages that they had "nothing to lose."

      Copyright (c) 1993 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD.  This
      information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control &
      Prevention (CDC), National AIDS Clearinghouse as a public service. 
      Non-profit reproduction is encouraged.

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