Mothers hope hikers are released from Iran

(AP):

The mothers of two American hikers imprisoned in Iran on spying charges said yesterday that they hope Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad brings their sons with him when he comes to New York for the United Nations General Assembly next week.

"He has innocent hikers, and I think it would be a wonderful humanitarian move," said Laura Fattal, the mother of Josh Fattal.

Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd were detained along Iran's border with Iraq in July 2009 and later accused of spying. Shourd, who grew up in Los Angeles, was released Tuesday after Omani officials mediated a deal for a $500,000 bail. Fattal and Bauer remain in a Tehran prison.

'They need to be free'

Laura Fattal and Bauer's mother, Cindy Hickey, said they were encouraged by Shourd's release and hope their sons will be freed soon as well.

"These are young people with their lives ahead of them," Fattal said. "They need to be free."

Hickey, of Pine City, Minnesota and Fattal, of Elkins Park, Pennsyl-vania, spoke to The Associated Press in New York during a day of media interviews following Shourd's release.

They said they have not spoken to Shourd, but they understand she was able to say goodbye to Bauer and Fattal.