TEHRAN, Nov 9: Three American hikers taken into custody by Iranian guards near the border with Iraq on July 31 are facing charges of spying, Iran’s judiciary said on Monday.

Tehran chief prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi was quoted by the IRNA news agency as saying the investigations were continuing against Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27, and that a statement on their fate would be made soon.

“The three Americans arrested near the border of Iran and Iraq are facing charges of spying and the inquiry is continuing,” he said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in Berlin there was ‘no evidence’ for Iran to charge the Americans.

“We believe strongly that there is no evidence to support any charge whatsoever,” Mrs Clinton told reporters during a visit to Germany for celebrations commemorating the fall of the Berlin Wall. —AFP
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