St. Louis Man Offers Himself in Trade for Hostage
BEIRUT — A Greek-American businessman who described himself as “a citizen of the world” arrived in Beirut to offer himself in exchange for one of the 39 American hostages held by Shia Muslim militiamen.
Petros Bratakos, 44, a retired computer executive from St. Louis who arrived in Beirut on Friday, cited “humanitarian reasons” for his mission and said he wanted to replace hostage Arthur Toga, also of St. Louis, as a captive.
Bratakos said he had never met Toga.
“For Mr. Toga, because he is from St. Louis, his wife is pregnant,” Bratakos told a reporter. “I come as a citizen of the world.”
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