Reid urges Clinton to intercede in kidnappings

Friday, March 20, 1998 | 11:15 a.m.

His letter to Clinton on Friday came as Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., said the White House had pledged to do everything possible to ensure the safe return of the two men. Both Smith and Reid, D-Nev., are Mormons.

Three FBI agents already have been sent to Russia and a fourth who is fluent in Russian and experienced in hostage negotiations was dispatched Friday to help in the search for Andrew Lee Propst, 20, of Lebanon, Ore., and Travis Robert Tuttle, 20, of Gilbert, Ariz.

The two Americans were serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Russia Samara Mission about 500 miles southeast of Moscow on the Volga River, church spokesman Don LeFevre said.

A ransom note demanding $300,000 was left on the doorstep of a church member after the men were abducted Wednesday.

"I consider these events troubling and am following the situation with intense interest," Reid wrote in his letter to the White House.

"It would be very much appreciated if you would personally contact Prime Minister (Viktor) Chernomyrdin to convey our earnest desire that this situation be resolved as quickly as possible."

He said he had sent telegrams from fellow Mormon members of Congress to both Chernomyrdin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin.