Carter seeks pardon for Patty Hearst

Los Angeles - The former US president, Mr Jimmy Carter, has asked President Clinton to grant a full pardon to Patty Hearst, the newspaper heiress who joined an urban guerrilla group after it kidnapped her in 1974, the Los Angeles Times reported yesterday. Mr Carter has told Mr Clinton, the Vice-President, Mr Al Gore and the Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, that Hearst has led an exemplary life as a wife and mother since 1979 when Mr Carter as president ordered her release after 22 months in jail, the newspaper said.