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The demands of Khaalis and his followers were eventually pieced together. They wanted the Muslims convicted for the 1973 murders handed over to them, presumably for execution. They asked to have Wallace Muhammad, the Bilalian leader, and Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali, long an active Black Muslim supporter, brought to them. Khaalis also insisted that he be refunded $750 in legal fees caused by a contempt of court citation. During the trial of his family's killers, he had denounced them in court. He also wanted the recently released film Mohammad, Messenger of God, to be banned on the grounds that it is sacrilegious (see box). Khaalis' concern over the film was thought to have triggered the attack.
Khaalis got his $750 back and theaters stopped showing the movie—at least temporarily. But there was no possibility that his enemies would be delivered to him. If they were not, he insisted, the Hanafis would start beheading the hostages. After assembling a psychiatric profile of Khaalis, the FBI feared that he might do what he said. "It's the worst situation we've ever had," said an FBI official.
The effort to free the hostages was in the hands of the FBI and local police, under the command of Police Chief Maurice Cullinane. Attorney General Griffin Bell and FBI Director Clarence Kelley were kept briefed, but the night-and-day negotiations were conducted by seven men: Cullinane; Deputy Police Chief Robert Rabe; Nick Stames, chief of the FBI's Washington field office; FBI Agent Pat Mullany, the bureau's most skilled hostage negotiator; plus three diplomats whose admirable intervention may well have brought about the salvation of the hostages. It was, at first glance, an unlikely trio to be bargaining with American gunmen. The three:
> Zahedi, 48, escort of beautiful women—last year's favorite was Elizabeth Taylor—lavish dispenser of caviar, which he delivers to friends by liveried chauffeur, former husband of the daughter of the Shah of Iran and probably Washington's best-known diplomat and partygiver. Hidden by his playboy image is his tremendous competence as an ambassador. He is also the chairman of the board of governors of the Islamic Center.
> Ghorbal, 51, a physical Lilliputian at only inches over five feet but a man of imposing intelligence, wit and charm. One of Washington's most respected diplomats, he is a totally cosmopolitan figure; previous posts include Paris, London, Geneva and Ottawa. He holds both a master's and doctorate from Harvard.
> Yaqub-Khan, 56, a trim, ascetic retired lieutenant general in the Pakistan army and its former chief of staff. Familiar with battle scenes, he was twice captured while serving with the British Indian army in World War II—and escaped both times. He is a four-goal international polo player, and a formidable linguist, fluent in English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Urdu.
Ambassador Ghorbal was the first to volunteer help. Learning that Egyptians were among the hostages at the Islamic Center, he called the State Department and when asked, agreed to talk to Khaalis on the phone from the police command center. Ghorbal then called Yaqub-Khan, who joined him, and left a message for Zahedi, who at the moment was on a Concorde returning to Washington from Paris.