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Released hiker back in US, calls for released of two still in Iran

Other News Materials 20 September 2010 02:02 (UTC +04:00)
The American hiker released by Iran arrived in the United States Sunday after more than a year in prison and called for the release of the two men arrested with her last year, dpa reported.
Released hiker back in US, calls for released of two still in Iran

The American hiker released by Iran arrived in the United States Sunday after more than a year in prison and called for the release of the two men arrested with her last year, dpa reported.

Sarah Shourd, who had been held since July 2009 by Iran on suspicion of espionage along with two other American hikers, described herself as only "one-third free" until her fiance and their friend are also released.

She was released Tuesday by Tehran.

Iranian authorities arrested Shourd, 32, and Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, both 28, in July 2009 when they allegedly crossed an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdistan region.

"Josh and Shane don't deserve to be in prison," she said at a press conference in New York. She stressed that the trio had not realized they had crossed the border into Iran when visiting a popular tourist area and had not been involved in espionage as authorities alleged.

Tehran released Shourd due to an illness - reportedly a lump in her breast - and her need for specialized medical care, but asked for 500,000 dollar bail, which Oman mediated.

On Friday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested that the US should also release jailed Iranians in return for Shourd's release.

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