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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Iran Allows Swiss Envoys Visit With Detained Hikers

Policy reversal may be gesture of goodwill ahead of nuclear talks

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(Newser) – Iran has changed its policy on three detained US hikers, allowing Swiss diplomats—who represent American interests in Iran—to visit them. Officials have been denied access to the three Americans since they were detained in July after crossing the border from Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran. Tehran’s reversal may be an attempt to smooth relations with the US ahead of Thursday’s UN Security Council meetings, which will deal with the nation’s nuclear ambitions, the BBC reports.

This 2008 photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Shourd and Bauer families shows Shane Bauer, right, and Sarah Shourd in Berkeley, Calif.
This 2008 photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Shourd and Bauer families shows Shane Bauer, right, and Sarah Shourd in Berkeley, Calif.   (AP Photo/Shourd and Bauer families)
In this undated photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Fattal family, Joshua Felix Fattal, right, laughs with his mother Laura Fattal in Elkins Park, Pa.
In this undated photo provided Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 by the Fattal family, Joshua Felix Fattal, right, laughs with his mother Laura Fattal in Elkins Park, Pa.   (AP Photo/Fattal family)
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15 comments
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Spudsy
Sep 29, 09 4:17 PM CDT
What kind of thrill do you get from hiking in Iraq? Not my idea of a vacation. I would be interested to know what they were really doing over there. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Sep 29, 09 5:29 PM CDT
just cause part of the country is at war, doesn't mean the whole place is. It's a beautfiul country!
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
JoeQ
Sep 29, 09 7:20 PM CDT
My understanding is that they were trying to reach a rather picturesque waterfall. If you cannot understand why anyone would want to spend their day doing that, stay inside at home and stay tuned to Fox for important updates.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
WharfRat
Sep 29, 09 7:25 PM CDT
Seriously Spudsy, you really drank the FOX koolaid. The Middle East is a beautiful place.
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Sep 29, 09 8:04 PM CDT
Wow. My question led to accusations of Foxhood. I just don't get the idea of a vacation in a war zone. A vacation in other peoples misery. And by the way. Fox declared that we won the war way back when your buddy Bush did. So you are most likely a right wingnut troll lurking about here JoeQ. I still see it as a violent war zone. But that's my take on it and not yours or Fox News.
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