Perot, North link revealed in efforts to free hostages

WASHINGTON Several times over the last five years, Marine Lt.Col. Oliver L. North arranged for Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot toput up ransom money to obtain the release of American hostages,including those held in Lebanon, informed sources said.

The most recent attempt was on May 23, when North asked Perot toplace $2 million in an account in the Credit Suisse Bank of Zurich aspart of a transaction to secure the release of the remaining U.S.hostages in Lebanon.

The account was named Lake Resources Inc. and numbered386-430-22-1. Perot was about to telex the funds when North calledand requested that Perot instead send the money by courier to Cyprus.Perot did …