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Oman envoy headed to Iran possibly to help free U.S. hikers
An Omani official is en route to Iran to help negotiate the release of two American hikers who have been held for two years on accusations of spying, a western diplomat told CNN.
The official was flying from Oman to Tehran and would be there to help iron out any last-minute wrinkles regarding the possible release of Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, but it is not yet clear if the hostages are free to leave, the diplomat told CNN.
Oman helped secure the release of a third hiker, Sarah Shourd, in September 2010 after a judge allowed her to be released on bail because of her medical condition. Her bail was posted by Omani sources, a senior Obama administration official said at the time. Shroud said then that she hoped to see her fiance, Bauer, soon.
Earlier on Wednesday the Iranian Judiciary said it was considering a request for setting bail in the case of the two American hikers accused of spying.
The report, posted on Iran's Judiciary website, seemed to contradict a statement by the hikers' lawyer that bail was already set in the case.
Fattal and Bauer would be released from Tehran's Evin prison after a $500,000 bail is paid for each of them, their attorney, Masoud Shafiee, said Tuesday.
Fattal, Bauer and a third hiker, Shourd, were seized on July 31, 2009, after apparently straying across an unmarked border between Iraq and Iran. Iranian authorities arrested them, claiming they were spies and had entered the country illegally.
“If you remember last year around this time Sarah Shourd was released with help of Omani government," CNN Senior State Department Producer Elise Labott reported. "The Omanis sent a plane (and) an envoy there to get her out, and then flew out with her to Oman.”
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Would Brook ever wear my logo? That's the 100 billion dollar question.
Not that she'd ever get 100 billion dollars.
Yes, we know they weren't really "spying", Yes, this basically amounts to a hostage/ransom situation.
But you know what? the US has known that for years about Iran. What were these Morons doing hiking the Iraq/Iran border? Who in their right mind thinks that's a good idea? These idiots played with fire and got burned, I don't know why this is newsworthy.
Next trip: Pleasure cruise off the coast of Somalia, let's go! We're just innocent kids nobody would want to harm us right? right?
They'll be alright. They will arrive to a red carpet homecoming. They'll get to meet top level US officials, opportunities to do "analyst" type commentary work for CNN, Fox News and the likes, movie and film deals, and maybe even teaching assignments at big Universities. Not too bad for being locked up for a year.
You are right. Not a bad retirement plan.. Wonder how much a ticket to baghdad goes for..
2011-2009=2years, not 1 and itwas 2 years july 31st so more than 2 years
I have never seen her so serious in my life.
SMH.
A hostage situation is *exactly* what this is.
Iran must need it's petty cash fund replenished...
What does SMH mean?
@ man on the moon from what I understand all three of them were working for al jezeera So who knows good chance they were spying
What do you mean gung hoe? Is that really you?
Not me.
Hello banasy. Do you realy think that a country with billions in annual oil revenue really needs half a million dollars? I doubt it. What other reasons are there though. I'm baffled.
@Scottish Mama
Because they can.
Not me.
CLOSE OUR BORDERS CASE CLOSED
@leeintulsa:
Shaking My Head.
@Scottish Mama:
No, of course not. However, coming from a country who wants "bail" after a person is convicted, I couldn't come up with a better explanation.
Couldn't they at least have called it a very big fine?
And it's a half a million dollars *each*.
Not me Banasy,
Thatis a lot of money. I see itas randsommoney by iran. They begformoney. The almighty dollarstill wanted.
i don't see anyone acknowledging the tremendous efforts by OMAN to get our people out. Thank you.
I agree.
Wow, fantastic weblog structure! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for? you make running a blog glance easy. The full look of your web site is great, let alone the content!