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GV Plane on tarmac
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CU Lights on police vehicles (2 shots)
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SV Pan Crew and hostages entering bus
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CU PAN Hijackers giving victory sign
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SV Hijackers walk across tarmac
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SV Hijackers into car (2 shots)
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SV Pan Car with hijackers drives off
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EDITORS NOTE: YOUR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO VISNEWS PRODUCTION 11797/73: ITALY: RELATIVES OF SLAINATTACK VICTIMS ARRIVE IN ROME.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Arab guerrilla operation which left thirty-three people dead in its wake ended in Kuwait Tuesday night (18 December) when the hijackers of the Lufthansa Boeing 737 released all their hostages and surrendered to Kuwait authorities.

The 'plane had been hijacked Monday (17 December) following a firebomb and machinegun attack on Rome airport. The airliner was forced to fly to Athens where the hijackers vainly negotiated for the release of two Arab guerrillas awaiting trial for an attack on Athens Airport earlier this year. From there, the airliner flew across the Mediterranean and over the Middle East to the Gulf State of Kuwait.

The hijackers released their twelve hostages -- five Italian policemen, an Ethiopian and the crew of six -- and surrendered following three hours of bargaining with Kuwait officials. They had asked for safe conduct to an Arab country; but, according to Kuwait Government officials, all they were promised was that they wouldn't be shot as they left the 'plane.

The hijackers weren't carrying any documents, so it's not known who they are, or to which organisation they belong. The leader of the Palestinian commando group, however, claimed that he was "fighting for the whole world that America and Israel have sentenced to death."
the attack has been condemned throughout the Arab world. Even the Palestine Commando leadership in B???t, Lebanon, said the hijacking was directed against the Palestinian people.