News stories from Sunday November 2, 1980

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

President Carter responded to Iran's terms for freeing the hostages with the statement that they appeared to offer "a positive basis" for resolving the the year-long crisis and maintaining American honor. His televised statement was clearly designed to indicate Washington's interest in negotiating a solution, despite some serious problems with Iran's conditions.The Ayatollah Khomeini met with the Iranian militants holding the American hostages and gave them permission to turn their captives over to the Iranian government. In an hour-long speech, the Ayatollah said: "Now that the Parliament has taken the decision, it is a correct move to delegate the issue to the government. I hope you will be successful wherever you are, even on the battlefronts." A majority of the 203 deputies in the Parliament approved a report by a special commission endorsing in more detailed form, but essentially unchanged, the four conditions laid down earlier by the Ayatollah for freeing the hostages. [New York Times] Ronald Reagan refused to discuss Iran's terms for freeing the hostages, saying that the situation was too sensitive."However, George Bush, his running mate, said the proposals gave the United States ground for reasonable negotiations. Republican leaders opposed any arrangement that would provide Iran with American weapons in return for the hostages' release. [New York Times] American compliance with Iran's terms might not be possible immediately because President Carter probably lacks legal authority to unfreeze all Iranian assets, as well as the assets of the late Shah and his family, and cancel all claims by American interests against Iran, according to some legal experts. [New York Times] Most of the hostages' families ex-pressed guarded optimism or refused to comment after the Iranian Parliament announced terms for freeing the Americans. None of the families thought that the hostages would be freed soon, and many expressed fears of still more delays. [New York Times] Iraq announced that it had seized the Iranian Oil Minister, Mohammed Jawad Baqir Tunguyan, who was named to the post a month ago. A communique from the Iraqi General Command said that Mr. Tunguyan was ambushed by a special military patrol on Friday and taken to Baghdad. Meanwhile, heavy fighting was reported by Iraq and Iran around Abadan and near Dizful and Ahwaz, provincial capital of Khuzistan. [New York Times] The President and Ronald Reagan were running about even in popular support as the election approached. Public opinion polls completed before Iran announced its terms for freeing the hostages reflected a popular vote contest that was almost even but that could be affected by voters' reactions to the hostage situation. [New York Times] Pravda again discussed the election and said there is little difference between President Carter and Ronald Reagan on nuclear arms control, the "key question" in Soviet-American relations. In an analysis of campaign statements, the Communist Party newspaper said "behind both candidates stand powerful forces, those forces that are the real and not the nominal rulers of the United States." In this reference to the military-industrial establishment, the paper called on it to pull back from what it views as a revival of the arms race. [New York Times] New York's three Senate candidates sought to sharpen the attacks and defenses they hoped would bring them victory. Senator Jacob Javits, who is seeking re-election, again had to fend off questions about his age and his health. The questions this time came from the Liberal Party, which is backing his race. [New York Times] The battle for state legislative seats at stake Tuesday has a special intensity this year because of the reapportionment, the redrawing of district boundaries, which follows every Census. The Republicans have by far outspent the Democrats in the legislative races, and they claim that they could gain 10 to 15 additional legislatures. [New York Times] The body of another black child was found in Atlanta, apparently the 15th victim of death or abduction of black children in the city in the last 16 months. [New York Times] New Jersey may get a TV station. That state and Delaware are the only states without commercial VHF television stations. A majority of the members of the Federal Communications Commission are said to be leaning toward ordering a shift of WOR-TV, Channel 9, from New York to New Jersey. Approval could come this week. [New York Times]