Mr. Besharati told The Teheran Times: "I saw the situation there, and you know nothing is secret in Lebanon.

Iran's English-langauge daily, The Teheran Times, said today that the two Germans would be freed within 48 hours.

The Teheran Times, which generally reflects the views of President Hashemi Rafsanjani, has been saying for months that the hostages should be freed.

The Teheran Times, which has supported Hojatolislam Rafsanjani, called his decision "a clear sign of independence and determination on the part of the President."

The bottom of the front page of The Teheran Times recently carried a big ad for Kenwood stereo equipment.

"Muslim Iraqi people shouldn't pay for the mistakes of their Government," the editorial in The Teheran Times said.

Perhaps the most positive signal, she said, was an editorial in The Teheran Times on Thursday that urged that the hostages be released.

The communique followed a report in The Teheran Times that an American and a British hostage would be released by the weekend.

Nevertheless, the state-run English-language Teheran Times denounced the signers of the letter as Communists, demanding legal action against them.

The Teheran Times, a newspaper with links to Mr. Rafsanjani, said in an editorial that 1990 would be the last year of captivity for the hostages.