Ahmadinejad proposes prisoner swap for US hikers

[Scurrilous]

Source: Washington Post

<snip>

"Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday proposed a prisoner swap of Iranians in U.S. prisons for three American hikers being held in Tehran.

Ahmadinejad said in interview with state TV that there were ongoing negotiations about possibly exchanging the hikers for several Iranians jailed for years in the United States.

"There are some talks under way to have an exchange, if it is possible," he said. "Recently they (the U.S.) have sent messages, we answered to bring them (the Iranians), to bring these people (the hikers). We are hopeful that all prisoners will be released."

Ahmadinejad did not mention any specifics but in December Iran released a list of 11 Iranians it says are being held in the U.S. - including a nuclear scientist who disappeared in Saudi Arabia and a former Defense Ministry official who vanished in Turkey. The list also includes an Iranian arrested in Canada on charges of trying to obtain nuclear technology."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020202335.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turbineguy]

2. Welcome to DU

If you donate, the ads don't show up.

[Umbral]

3. Sure we do, especially Iranians. nt

[pjt7]

4. We kidnapped some of the people

they want back.

[yava]

5. and we are friends with these:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/saudi-girl-12-drops-plan_n_445741.html

exchange a Taliban or a warlord for this child.

[maddezmom]

6. U.S. Denies Holding Talks With Iran About Prisoner-Swap but would welcome such a move

U.S. Denies Holding Talks With Iran About Prisoner-Swap
2/3/2010 3:02 AM ET




(RTTNews) - The United States has denied holding talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran about a prisoner-exchange after Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran had held discussions about such a possibility, but said it would welcome such a move.

The denial came after the Iranian leader suggested Tuesday in an interview with state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran would free three jailed American hikers in exchange for Iranians held in U.S. prisons, adding that there wre "some talks under way to have an exchange."

Iranian authorities arrested three American hikers last July after they crossed into Iran from Iraq. Tehran accused them of spying and said they would be tried, but did not announce a date.

Family members of the hikers say Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd were hiking in Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region when they strayed into Iran accidentally.

more:http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1198945&SMap=1