Families: 3 Americans detained in Iran call home

[March 10, 2010]  PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The families of three Americans detained in Iran for months say their loved ones have been allowed to call home for the first time.

The families said in a statement Wednesday that they received the calls Tuesday. The three reported being well. The families called the conversations "a tremendous relief."

The families say Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal (fuh-TAHL') were hiking in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region in July when they accidentally crossed the border into Iran.

Bauer and Fattal are 27 and Shourd is 31. The families say Bauer and Fattal are being held in the same prison cell in Tehran. Shourd is alone in her cell but is able to meet with the other two daily.

Iran says the three are spies. U.S. officials have called for their release.

[Associated Press]

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