Ahmadinejad suggests exchange for jailed US hikers
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suggested that Iran would release three jailed U.S. hikers in exchange for Iranians currently serving in American prisons.
Ahmadinejad said in a television interview Tuesday that talks were under way about possibly exchanging the hikers for Iranians in the United States.
Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal were hiking in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region in July when they accidentally crossed the border, their families have said.
Iranian officials have previously said they would be tried for espionage. The families have denied the accusations.
Ahmadinejad said there were Iranians serving time for years in U.S. prisons for no particular crime.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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