Clinton sees families of hikers detained in Iran

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she held an emotional meeting with the families of three American hikers detained in Iran and is renewing appeals to Iranian authorities to release them.

Clinton met on Thursday at the State Department with the families of Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal. She said that as a mother, she sympathized with them. She said she explained to them what the federal government is doing to try to get the three released.

She called on Iran to free them on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

The three were arrested in late July for illegal entry near the Iraq border and are in a Tehran prison. During three months in custody, they have been allowed only two visits by Swiss diplomats who represent U.S. interests in Iran.

-- Associated Press