14 seconds ago 2009-12-04T05:35:02-08:00
BERLIN (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday there is no evidence for Iran to charge three detained American hikers and renewed calls for their release.
Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was quoted by the IRNA news agency as saying Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, face charges of spying, after they entered Iran from Iraq in the summer.
"We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever," Clinton told reporters during a visit to Germany for celebrations commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"And we would renew our request on the behalf of these three young people and their families that the Iranian government exercise compassion and release them so they can return home," she said.
"And we will continue to make that case through our Swiss protecting power, who represents the United States in Tehran," Clinton said.
