Prisoner Trade Could Bring Hikers Home

Elkins Park native and two friends accused of espionage after wandering into Iran

Three American hikers detained in Iran may have the chance to come home, if the U.S. government is willing to do a trade.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he may be willing to swap Elkins Park, Pa. native Josh Fattal and friends Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd for several Iranian nationals currently jailed in the U.S.

The hikers have been held captive since July after accidentally crossing the border into the country from Northern Iraq.

The country accused them of being spies for the CIA -- a notion the State department and the hikers emphatically deny. Iran previously said it plans to try the hikers for espionage.

Ahmadinejad told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. government contacted him to propose the trade.

A White House spokesperson called the reports "fragmentary," but did not deny the claim.

Families of the detained Americans launched a campaign late last year to Free the Hikers. They had no comment on the remarks.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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