Former secretary of state Vance dies

NEW YORK -- Cyrus R. Vance, who resigned as President Carter's secretary of state over an ill-fated attempt to save American hostages from Iran, died Saturday. He was 84.

Vance died at Mt. Sinai Medical Center after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease, said his son, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. He said he did not know the cause of death.

Vance enjoyed several successes during his early period as secretary of state but suffered setbacks later on. He played a key role in normalizing relations with China, winning approval for new Panama Canal treaties and helping negotiate a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

But Vance's tenure also saw an expansion of Soviet influence in a number of areas as well as the collapse of the pro-American monarchy in Iran and the seizure of American hostages in Tehran.