Clinton calls for release of three Americans in Iran
Updated: Monday, November 09, 2009
Photographer: US State Department Photo
Hillary Clinton
14:25GMT—9:25AM/EST
Washington, 9 November (WashingtonTV)—US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that there was no evidence for Iran to charge three detained Americans, and renewed calls for their release.
Tehran prosecutor-general, Abbas Jafa’ri Dolatabadi, said today that Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal, who were arrested on 31 July, had been charged with espionage.
The three Americans reportedly crossed into Iran while hiking along the poorly marked border in northern Iraq.
“We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever,” Clinton said on a visit to Berlin, according to Reuters.
Clinton renewed Washington’s request that Tehran “exercise compassion” and release the three Americans, reports AFP.
She said that the U.S. would continue to make that case through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran.
Under Iran’s Islamic law, espionage is punishable by death.
Sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse
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