they're shane bauer and josh fattal.her-in-law nate lindstrom on the line calling in from duluth, minnesota. nate, did you think this moment would ever come? >> pardon? >> nate, this is brooke in atlanta. can you hear me? >> yes, i can hear me. >> did you think this moment, your brother-in-law finally being freed, did you think it would ever happen? >> i knew it would happen eventually, but i just didn't know when. now that it's here, i'm so happy that it's finally going to be over. when did you find out that this moment would finally happen? days? weeks? >> i actually found out at about 4:00 a.m. this morning. my wife called me and said i think something's going to happen today, so be prepared. >> what exactly did your wife say? what had shane said? >> she said pretty much all she could say. she couldn't give me specifics. >> is she there in oman? >> she's with her family right now, yeah. >> okay. because from what i understand, both of their mothers and sarah shourd is there on the tarmac as we're all waiting to see th

shane bauer and josh fattal. we take you to new york to hear more about this incredible journey. on the flight with fattal and bauer, todd baxter, he'll be joining us soon with details about his conversation with them on the plane. >>> in saudi arabia, a historic decision expanding women's rights. king abdullah says saudi women will be able to vote and run for office in future municipal elections, not including elections coming up this thursday. >> i've spoken to many women's rights activists in the past several hours, after this announcement was made. they are elated at the news. they say it is about time. they say it is one thing to be able to vote, but to also be able to nominate themselves as candidates in the future round of elections, even though the date for the elections hasn't been set yet, they say they're over the moon about this, this is a big step forward toward the empowerment of women in saudi arabia. they say that's something much needed in this country, a country where there is a male guardianshi

shane bower and josh fattal were released earlier today. they left iran on a plane heading for oman after their lawyers obtained signatures on a bail for freedom deal. $500,000 for each man was posted by an unknown source, possibly someone from oman. their release had been delayed due to a power struggle between president ahmadinejad and his judicial rivals. bower and fattal have ties to the bay area. they are u.c. berkeley graduates and worked with people here. tara has some reaction from people who knew them and boy, they must be relieved. >> reporter: oh, definitely. this is a copy of the last story shane bower wrote for new american media. the offices are across the street from where they're standing. >> right now i'm heading out the door and traveling to kurdistan. >> reporter: she reads the e- mail three days before they were captured more than two years ago. >> it was just a morning of great relief. >> reporter: sandy spearheads the news outlet. >> he was never a spy, never dreamed of being a spy. he went and learned arabic. he did t

all eyes were on shane bauer and sarah shourd.hey were embracing, kissing on the tarmac after shane got off the plane. they even gave each other flowers. a very romantic reunion and engagement that's taken place in a much more romantic setting than the initial engagement they had when they were in prison together. >> that's beautiful. everyone wishes them well. as it pertains to shane and josh, when might they, along with everybody else, be coming back to the u.s.? >> reporter: fredricka, we're still not sure. shane and josh and the family has been quiet here in muscat. we're told the first day shane and josh were getting medical tests done, having quiet time with their families. we heard after this engagement ceremony what happened, this was last night. omani officials said 24 to 48 hours. we expect they will leave fairly soon and head back to the u.s. we've heard from officials here that basically shane and josh and sarah have really enjoyed being reunited. we should add josh fattal, the third american hiker released, on that pl

shane and josh are 28. they need to be doing what they do fwor the world and get on with this. >> obviously we'll follow this and see if those young men come home. >>> also, just in to cnn, a bizarre arrest in a kidnapping case. this 3-year-old canadian boy goes missing. several days miss later he shows up at home unharmed. here's his father. >> he is happily home and playing with his brothers and sisters. thank you. thank you. >> so police come forward, name this guy as a suspect. this is 46-year-old randall hopely, a convicted sex offender who lives just a couple of miles down the road from the boy's home. here is the news today. we are told police tracked him down using dogs as he took off running from a house. it it's not yet clear what evidence investigators have on him. >>> also this -- >> someone doesn't have to weaponize the bird flu. ed the birds are doing that. >> that's where we're headed. >> this is the biggest movie in america right now, a virus threatens to wipe out the human race and it's got

his wife is there with shane's parents and sarah shourd for the reunion.hat that moment was like for his wife. >> i'm sure, just overjoyed to finally have them back and to be able to see them and hold them and hug them. he was where he was to try and build bridges between people that don't currently have them, i guess, so i feel he's going to get back out there and keep doing what he was doing. >> we can only hope and possibly expect that when they come back to the united states, perhaps shane and josh will hold a press conference as sarah did when she returned to new york. that was just over a year ago. and perhaps begin to talk more about what their ordeal was like, spending more than two years behind bars and of course, we may also hear more about that lost engagement ring. it's kind of an amusing note to end on because sarah lost that makeshift engagement ring that was made for her by shane bauer. he proposed in prison back in january of 2010. got down on a bended knee and fashioned a ring out of threat from one of his shirts. when she was travels arou

shane bauer, josh fattal, free men this morning after two years in prison. more in 20 minutes. >> it's been confusing with president ahmadinejad saying one thing, judiciary saying something else. and the judge being on vacation during part of this time. >> he got back earlier today. they're 11-1/2 hours later. and he got back today. they got the signature and got the men out of the evan prison. they are slowly making your way to the u.s. >> couple of happy guys and happy families. we'll come back for more in a few minutes. >> other news now, if you ever left your car for a couple of moments in san francisco, then come back to find it towed there could be an app for that. board of supervisors president david chiu wants the city to come up with automated system to alert drivers via e-mail or text that the vehicle is about to be towed. users would sign up and specify boundaries covered. 160 cars are towed every day in san francisco. toeing fees and fines to -- towing fees to retrieve vehicle could top $450. >>> a reminder good people step forward when they are

and as i saw them, josh and shane, they looked healthy and upbeat, diane. a picture of strength on an emotional night. >> yes, what a day for their families. thank you, jim. >>> and one international drama may have ended, but today the president had to tackle another. he spoke at the united nations about that political mine field between israel and the palestinian demand to be recognized as a state now. abc's jake tapper has been traveling with the president. >> reporter: president obama today gave the palestinian president a sharp public rebuke and stark warning that the united states opposes the palestinian push to have the united nations recognize them as a sovereign state without direct negotiations with israel. >> peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the united nations. if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. >> reporter: with palestinian president abbas looking unhappy, mr. obama offered an impassioned defense of israel and called on the u.n. to push both sides back to the negotiating table. a speech applaude

where a shane bauer and josh fattal, the former u.c. berkeley students? i'm terry mcsweeney live in the newsroom. the story on the way. >> i'm amy hollyfield live in san francisco. where police are looking for two men who opened fire in the bay view in the middle of the afternoon. sent a 5-year-old girl to the hospital. >> good morning. a look from downtown san francisco. third consecutive spare the air. i'll show you where the air quality will be poor and when it will cool off. >> sue hall following wednesday morning commute. abc7 traffic center. thick fog on the golden gate bridge. hot spot is san leandro with a big rig accident. we'll get you around it in a minute. >> i'm kristen sze. >> i'm eric thomas. breaking news out of iran where two u.c. berkeley graduates are free men. shane bauer and josh fattal have been released after two years imprisoned on spying charges but there is confusion about where they are and if they have left the prison facility exactly. terry mcsweeney is on top of the story all morning long. we know the next step is get them ho

shane actually gave a rose to shourd. a little later there was a very brief press conference in which josh and shane spoke to the press. here is more of what they had to say. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. >> two years in prison is too long. we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: a very, very emotional night. as the family said in a statement released earlier yesterday evening, it was the best day of their lives. >> do we know this morning what josh and shane and their families are doing today? >> reporter: officials tell us they believe they are getting medical tests. josh and shane are speaking to the media this morning. we are told by some people here they are basically taking a day to catch up with their families and probably getting medical tests done. deciding exactly what they want to do. last year when sarah shourd was released one of the first things she did she was taken on a tour of the ma

berkeley students shane bauer and josh fattal were free to leave. they had been held as spies in iran, sentenced to eight years in prison. along with sarah shourd, who was freed last year. their families said all along they were hiking in 2009 when they may have accidentally crossed the border. former professors have told us this morning it's been a roller coaster ride. >> i've already gotten a number of text messages from students who were in the same class with shane and just very, very happy. so, we had a small class of about seven students that worked on a magazine at the journalist school. we all have been watching and praying. >> i think it's a good policy move for iran, though. they've really been stagnating in terms of press and last thing people think of when they think of iran is political fairness. >> reporter: both the men's families are overseas waiting for them. so is sarah shourd. just a short time ago, u.c. berkeley released a statement to the public affairs department, saying in part, they are certainly relieved and thankful at the

shane came on, had a huge bunch of flowers. the stewards took the flowers off him and put them in a cup pords to go in his seat. they were dressed down in jeans or hiking type pants. they looked tired. was the main thing. looked tired. it was an 8:30 a.m. flight in london on a sunday morning. you expect people to be tired. they looked tired. they weren't together per se. josh was with his family, what i imagine was some of his friends or family, and shane was following up in the rear. i talked to shane briefly and say are you the guys that got released from iran. they said yes. i told them congratulations. >> did they say anything more than that? >> they didn't. after i said congratulations, shane walked on to the back of the plane and i couldn't see them. they were sort of -- i tried to walk back there later on and i was kept back from going back to the back of the plane. >> yeah. i'm sure they were tired and needed their privacy. this was a commercial jet. i wonder other passengers on board were they aware these were the amer

. >> reporter: shane bauer worked as a contributing reporter here at new american media. others can't wait to welcome them. their friends are certain their lock-up won't chill their passion for the middle east or their passion for journalism. >> i fully expect them to go back out on the road after making sure his family gets time and his friends get time to spend with him. >> reporter: no word at this point when bauer, josh fattal and sarah shourd will return. >> and president obama reacted to the hikers' release at the u.n. >> wonderful news, we are thrilled. and i -- i know their families feel better, the moms who we have been in close contact with. it is a wonderful day. thank you. >> the release came just moments before president obama was to address the general assembly. now senator boxer had this to say about the release, "it is so wonderful that shane and josh are coming home to be with their loved ones but i deeply regret their release took so long. they paid too great a price by the iranian government' there was work to publicly release them. >>> and finally, fre

we have done a lot of work. >> reporter: the families of shane and josh released a statement. today can only be described as the best day of our lives. we now all want nothing more than to wrap shane and josh in our arms, catch up on two lost years, and make a new beginning for them and for all of us. the release comes just a day before iran's president mahmoud ahmadinejad is to address the united nations, but eight days after he told nbc exclusively their release was imminent. >> i think these two will be freed in a couple of days. >> in a couple of days? >> yes, in a couple of days. inshallah, they will be freed. >> the delay in the release exposed a power struggle inside iran. >> all the circumstances around the release of the hikers highlight the deep divisions amongst the ruling elite here in iran, something president ahmadinejad wanted to avoid before addressing the world stage at the u.n. this week. >> president obama also in new york for the u.n. meeting commented late today. >> it was the right thing to do. it shouldn't have been done, but we're glad they're going hom

also this morning, american hikers, shane bauer and josh fattal back in the u.s. after their release from prison and they're talking about the fear they faced there every day. they're being a little bit more open about their experience now here on u.s. soil. >> getting incredible details about what they experienced the last two years. great story there. >>> later this half-hour, retro pop music bands that had limited success, let's say. national one hit wonder day on sunday. so we will put bands like ah-ha in the spotlight. this is our favorite story of the day. >> no question there. >> not at all. >>> first, fears about the global economy are dragging down stocks overseas this morning. tokyo, hong kong, lower after a terrible week on wall street. >> the global economic jitters are affecting millions of savings and retirement plans. with more on that, here is abc's david muir. >> reporter: over the last week, stocks sank more than 6%, the worst week in three years, since the height of the recession. stoking fears we're headed for another recession or that we are a

their plight for two years. >> shane and i are now free men. >> they spent more than 780 days in anranian prison convicted along with sarah shourd for spying and trespassing. shourd was released last year. >> many times, too many times, we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten, and there was nothing we could do to help them. >> reporter: the three were hiking in northern iraq in 2009 and claim they mistakenly crossed the unmarked border into iran. they have called themselves hostages and political prisoners. >> this was never about crossing the unmarked border between iran and iraq. we were held because of our nat national. >> reporter: they were reunited wednesday, it was especially sweet for shane because sarah was also there to greet him. the two got engaged in prison so after a year apart for them and two years away from their families it's understandable they wanted a little private time before flying back to the united states. the men say the worst part of it all was not being able to communicate with their fam please. >> we want more than anything to begin our liv

josh fattal and shane bauer contend iran saying there were captured just because they were american.> how can we forgive the iranian government when it continues to imprison some many other innocent people. >> they share gripping details. >> we had to go on hunger strike repeatedly just to receive letters from our loved ones. many times, too many times we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten. >> they said they're kept in solitary confinement blindfolded, beaten until their families stop writing and diplomats had stopped trying to get them released. >> we have been held in almost total isolation from the world and everything we love them to survive, they kept busy with each other and reading novels and exercising. >> there were serious about their exercise and used water bottles as weights in their cells. >> during the more than two years of activity -- captivity they were allowed only 50 minutes of phone calls and one short visit from their mothers. >> it will be time to catch up with their families. shane bauer proposed to his fiancee in prison and they are celebrating

until josh fattal and shane bauer bounded down the steps into their arms.nd a long kiss between shane and sarah shourd, his fiancee and fellow prisoner until one year ago this week. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. >> two years in prison is too long. >> reporter: too long for the families as well. >> and he lasted 781 days. we couldn't be more proud. >> and you lasted 781 days. >> and so did shane. >> reporter: 781 days in iran's most notorious prison, one month on hunger strike, protesting their detention. a total of just 15 minutes in phone calls home. and just one face-to-face visit in iran. $1 million in bail. as their detention dragged on, their families' patience and strength wore thin. >> there must be moments when you just feel that resolve or the energy weakening. >> i don't ever feel resolve. that's never. but there are days. i don't sleep. i don't sleep at night. >> reporter: jim sciutto, abc news. >> you could feel the love in that image, can you not? those guys getting off the plane, incredible. >> so exciting. absolu

josh fattal and shane bauer. they were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country two years ago. and now we are being told that $1 million in bail has been submitted. $500,000 each. so, these two can walk free. and our cnn producer shirzad is right there outside of iran's most notorious prison where they have been held. as soon as you see them, we'll keep you up live, keep connections with you. zain verjee, i know we were going to talk about a totally different story with you out of london, but i would like to get you to weigh in on this because you have been talking about this since yesterday when we got word they were going to walk free. what do you know about this prison and how this might unfold? you heard shirzad is there waiting for them and then the question is, where will they go next? our sources telling us, possibly oman. >> evin prison is one of the most notorious prisons in iran. as what could happen next, they're likely to go to a third country. reports that they would go to muscat in ome

media that shane bauer and josh fattal would be freed as a humanitarian gesture.ver the last week there have been some ups and downs. bail was set at $500,000 each and there were reports that somebody put up the money. why they would put up the money is unclear. it's just away for them to ease tensions between iran and u.s. and would also ease tensions. either way the money was posted and there was a delay with the signatures. two were needed and one judge was on vacation until yesterday. overnight the attorneys said he had gotten all the necessary signatures from the judiciary officials and hoped they would be free today. at this point they are waiting, where they will go upon release is unclear. we are watching things carefully in tehran and we will keep you updated. news news. >>> >>> a woman who worked at the bakery, they found her body inside a bathroom last night. they looked into reports of an argument between a man and woman outside earlier in the evening but they found nothing suspicious. >>> they searched for the gunman who wounded a five-year- old girl.

theres was bail set of $5,000 each for shane bauer and josh fattal.he iran says the two americans shane bauer and josh fattal are spies, tried and convicted but the men's families say they're simply hikers who took a wrong turn, and now iran's president, perhaps hoping to good publicity in america says that the two will be freed. thieve illegally crossed our borders. we tried last year to free one of the three persons, and we are also trying to make arrangements for their freedom, for the freedom of the other two. i think these two will be freed in a couple of days. >> in a couple of days? >> yes, in a couple of days. >> they will be freed. >> shane bauer, josh fattal and their traveling companion went hiking in july 2009 in kurdistan. their families say if they crossed the unmarked border into iran, they did so entirely by accident. the three were detained by iranian officials and charged with illegal entry and espionage. a year ago, sarah shores was released on compassionate grounds. she remained outside the country while her companions were tried inside iran. now the case against all

josh fattal and shane bauer are expected to be back on u.s.oil this afternoon for the first time in more than two years. and abc's jim sciutto has more. >> reporter: three days after regaining their freedom, shane bauer and josh fattal left oman and are finally on their way home to the u.s. >> we hope someday to return to this wonderful country but for now we're eager to get home at last. >> reporter: oman, which played a central role in securing their release, gave them a chance to put their 26 months in captivity far out of their minds. >> we were able to swim in the calm waters of the gulf. we stayed up all night with our loved ones, and we watched the most beautiful sunset we have ever seen. these experiences will be with us for the rest of our lives. >> we'll never forget the excitement of seeing our loved ones waiting for us at the foot of the plane. the joy of embracing them all after so long will stay with us forever. >> reporter: there were even wedding bells as shane and fiancee sarah shourd became officially engaged after shane firs

by the way, shane and josh haven't been able to meet with their lawyer. which sound -- they've been in prison for more than years. imagine never speaking directly with the person representing you. gives us some insight into the legal system or lackthereof in iran. >> shannon: jenna, thanks for your coverage. >> reporter: thank you. >>> and the president thinks the wealthy aren't paying their fair share? juke manipulate statistics any way you want. >> chris: wait a minute, you don't think the top 10% -- [ talking over each other ] >> they are making a ton of money. >> chris: but they are paying 70% of the taxes. >> 22,000 millionaires pay less effective tax rate, un15%. we have inequities. >> shannon: that was white house seen for adviser david plouffe duking it out with chris wallace overtaxes. going to be a large issue. mr. obama is on the west coast for a campaign fundraising swing. steve centanni is following that and engines more. >> reporter: the president heads to three states in -- three days. hoping to rake in some cash for his reelection effort.

josh fattal and shane bauer embraced loved ones yesterday. they were found guilty of spying after they crossed into iran while hiking in iraq but a judge granted their release after oman paid a million dollars. coming up at 6:15, we'll have a live report on what is next for those two released hikers. >>> the release comes as iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad speaks at the united nations general assembly today. he is expected to talk about global management and a reform of the united nations. now, president obama addressed the assembly yesterday saying now is not the time to grant palestine's request for statehood. the president says an independent palestine need to emerge from peace negotiations with israel. >>> the names of two fallen firefighters are going to be added to a san francisco memorial today. lieutenant vince perez and firefighter paramedic tony valerio were killed while fighting a house fire that june. their funeral was the largest in san francisco in six decades. their names will be displayed at the line of duty memorial wal

shane bauer will spend a few days more in oman to recuperate. secretary of state hillary clinton says she is among those looking forward to greeting them when they return to the u.s. >> gas leak near san francisco union square is under investigation. yesterday, the crew working for the utility commission hit unmarked line. two hotel guests there were ordered to shelter in place. two other buildings were evacuated. utility said construction was supposed to start today and the contractor was a day early. >> this afternoon. two san francisco firefighters who died on the job will get a special memorial and hold a line of duty death memorial wall dedication ceremony to honor lieutenant vincent perez and firefighter paramedic anthony valerio. the names will be enscribed on the marble wall at the headquarters. they died after fighting a house fire in the dimond height neighborhood in june. they were the first to rush in the house. >>> the man charged in a san jose crime spree is expected to return to court in two weeks to enter a plea. emotional paul c

embassy here, came out and delivered the good news that josh fattal and shane bauer, after two years of hope and heartbreak for themselves and their families were on their way out of iran. >> two years in prison is too long. and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: what this ordeal and this case has highlighted, though, are deep rifts between the ruling elite, something president ahmadinejad wanted to avoid before addressing the u.n. general assembly this week. ali aruzi, nbc news, tehran. >>> back here at home, the diplomat standoff continues at the annual meeting of the united nations general assembly. palestinian president mahmoud abbas remains determined to take his bid for statehood to the u.n. despite pressure from the u.s. for abbas to instead resume peace talks with israel. nbc's tracie potts joins with us more from washington. tracie, good morning. >> reporter: lynn, good morning. president obama and the u.s. seem determined to convince him that the united nations is not the plac

my first priority is to help my fiance shane bauer and my friend josh fattal to regain their freedom. >> reporter: now sarah, along with the young men's mothers, who worked hard to make sure the world would not forget their sons. >> iran needs to stop playing games with shane and josh. >> reporter: appear about to have a heartfelt wish come true. the question tonight -- how soon before these two young american hikers are home again? and after more than two years in prison in iran, how are they holding up? brian? >> ann, thanks. ann curry reporting again tonight from tehran. >>> in washington, an effort to investigate an effort by the obama administration to create green jobs. this one went bad. a solar energy company championed by the president himself received half a billion dollars in government loans, and then it went bankrupt last month. today, republicans were looking for answers here. the story from our senior investigative correspondent lisa myers. >> reporter: the president visited the company solyndra last year, hailing it as a stimulus success story. >> the true engine of ec

as rob ross reports, this comes as bail was set for josh fattal and shane bauer, who they say will be freed in days. >> reporter: here where shane bauer worked as a journalist, a year before his arrest, there is hope, real hope. >> shane bauer's mother e- mailed me that this is the real thing, this is real. >> reporter: the iranian governor arrested bauer, josh fattal and their friend, sarah shourd, on charges of spying and crossing the iranian border, sarah shourd was released last year, but it was predicted that bauer and josh fattal could be freed in a couple of days, this coming after an iranian court set the bail at half a million each for the men. this comes after more information on the details that they could be released. we hope to say more, the family said, when they're back in our arms. >> i think it is the most horrible thing that could happen for them. >> reporter: students on campus hope that the ordeal will end soon. >> it is really scary knowing that students from my college are actually, you know scared for their lives right now in another country. and i am just happy

shane ba uer's fiancee.ring. i could see them in their cramped little cell with very little sunlight and they only get out one hour a day and they exercise side by side, a space like the size of a towel and they're wonderful, wonderful people and i want the world to meet them. >> sarah insisted that all three of them did nothing wrong and said they are certainly not spies. >>> all right, presidents, prime ministers and kings all gathering in new york this morning for the opening of the 66th annual u.n. general assembly. president obama is there. right now planning to deliver the session's opening address. just the very beginning of a very, very big day. >> we brought out our own big guns. richard roth live at the united nations this morning. good morning, richard. >> well, i think i'm rather disarming. i don't know about having a gun. but here at the u.n., president obama has not arrived. he's usually the last to arrive as everyone gathers in the general assembly hall. you're looking shortly, hopefully, at s

shane bauer and josh fattal are finally free. we obtained this exclusive footage of the pair. the iranians wanted to show that they were treated well in detention. they were detained with another american more than two years ago in the on march region between iran and iraq. the iranians accused them of spying but the americans said they were simply hiking. one was released last year on grounds of ill health. she said that none of them could have been supplies. >> we had no equipment on us. we had no intention to come into iran and we are no threat. >> the families were allowed to meet shane bauer and josh fattal last year. >> iran's president said this before the release. >> we did not make this decision under pressure. this is a humanitarian decision. >> this has only deepened the mistrust between iran and washington. iran says that their nuclear program is peaceful. western countries suspect iran of wanting to make a nuclear bomb. there has been problems with relations since the 1979 revolution. tehran and said they did it for better relations. >> they want to be a part of t

shane bauer and josh fattal deny any wrongdoing. >>> a diplomatic campaign is underway in new york. palestinians are trying to regain full membership. mahmoud ahmadinejad is leading the charge and today he will meet with french president nicolas sarkozy to try and gather support, however united states is promising to veto membership until they resume peace talks with israel. >> the effort itself will be counterproductive to the goal which is turn to direct negotiations between the two parties. >> mahmoud ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak before the un general assembly and plans on submitting a formal letter asking for membership. >>> president barack obama will meet with the libyan transition council and he will out to the early -- tout the early success of the the mission to remove muammar gaddafi. >>> last year's deadly pipeline explosion, the milestone in the rebuilding process will be marked this morning with a ceremonial shovel of dirt by the mayor and other city officials. eight people were killed and dozens more injured on that explosion and 38 homes were destroyed. >>> the o

shane bauer and josh fattal describes this as the best day in their lives. they are enjoying a reunion in gnomon. -- in oman. >> the joy of freedom. the relieved u.s. hiker's raced into the arms of their waiting family. this is the day they have all been waiting for. they are finally free. close your happy we are free -- >> we are happy that we are free. we thanked the king of all montfort obtaining our relief. -- we thanked the king of oman for obtaining our release. >> we sincerely hope for a freedom for those who are unjustly imprisoned in america and around the world. >> they were arrested along with a third american, sarah shourd, , in the region between iran and iraq. the iranians accused the trio of spying. the americans said they were simply hiking in northern iraq. sarah shourd was released last year on grounds of field house. -- of ill health. >> it is clear that we had no intention to come to iran. we were no threat. "the families were allowed to meet shane bauer and josh fattal briefly last year turned to relatives are calling this the best day o

these are the families waiting as shane bauer on the left and joshua fattal bounded into freedom. they landed in the persian gulf country of oman. president obama said today, "we're thrilled. they shouldn't have been held in the first place." seth doane has our story, beginning with that remarkable reunion. ( cheers ) >> reporter: dashing from the plane and right into the arms of waiting family, shane bauer and josh fattal finally tasted freedom. ( cheers ) bauer fell into sarah shourd's embrace. shourd had been hiking with the two men in july 2009. bauer and shroud got engaged while in prison. the two men then briefly spoke to the media gather on the tarmac in muscat, oman. >> we are so happy we are free and relieved we are free. >> two years in prison is too long and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: the two were held as political prisoners in iran for 26 months. during that time, family members were allowed just one visit and three phone calls. >> our deepest gratitude goes towar

meanwhile, shane bauer officially engaged to fellow hiker sara shourd. you see him putting the ring on her finger right there. josh fattal, who was freed with him on wednesday, is going to be the best man. sarah and him agreed to wed while they were in prison. >> >> at night time it gets busy here. >> he's the pastor at true vine ministries in oakland. it's a place tame during the day but dramatically changes at night with drug deals, prostitution and even murder.

. >>> after spending more than two years locked up in iran, hikers shane bauer and joshua fattal are finally free. yesterday they were released from prison and into the arms of loved ones. nbc news tehran's bureau chief has more from iran. >> reporter: after over 780 days in tehran's notorious prison, shane bauer and joshua fattal finally get to taste freedom. during fast-moving events, their iranian lawyer was summoned to the judiciary to come and finalize their $1 million bail arrangements. once that had been done, swiss delegates rushed to the prison to see how long it would take to get them out. the swiss ambassador who deals with american interests in iran because there is no u.s. embassy here came out and delivered the good news that shane bauer and joshua fattal, after two years of hope and heartbreak for themselves and their families, were on their way out of iran. >> two years in prison is too long. and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: what this ordeal and this case has highl

shane embracing his fiance' sarah shourd released from an iranian prison last year.osh clinging to his mother and brother. it has been a painful process as the families abdicateed tirelessly for iran to release the two friends detained on espionage charges since july 2009. >> two years in prison is too long. we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: the two were hiking in iraq when they accidentally crossed the border into iran. last month they were convicted of spying and sentenced to 8 additional years. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. our deepest gratitude goes towards his majesty sultan today boos of i i man to obtain our release. >> reporter: their families released a statement saying today can only be described as the best day of our lives. >> i'm about as happy as you can get. >> reporter: josh's uncle in seattle was elated at iran's decision. the release comes on the eve of president mahmoud ahmadinejad address to the united nations general assembl

shane embracing his fiance' sarah shourd released from an iranian prison last year. josh clinging to his mother and brother. it has been a painful process as the families abdicateed tirelessly for iran to release the two friends detained on espionage charges since july 2009. >> two years in prison is too long. we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and unjustly imprisoned people in america and iran. >> reporter: the two were hiking in iraq when they accidentally crossed the border into iran. last month they were convicted of spying and sentenced to 8 additional years. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. our deepest gratitude goes towards his majesty sultan today boos of i i man to obtain our release. >> reporter: their families released a statement saying today can only be described as the best day of our lives. >> i'm about as happy as you can get. >> reporter: josh's uncle in seattle was elated at iran's decision. the release comes on the eve of president mahmoud ahmadinejad address to the united nations general assem

today shane bauer's brother-in- law said his wife was relieved to be rejoined with shane. she had not spoken to shane for two years, the entire time he was inprisoned. the iranian president blasted the united states over the september 11 attacks. >> used mysterious september 11 incident as a pretext to attack afghanistan and iraq. >> moments ago the iranian president said it is not too late to fix tides with the united states. but he also blamed for the economic crisis. and that prompted a walk out by the u.s., france, germany and other countries. >>> during a speech therapy session stow was able to say his full name and the names of his two children. stow asked to see his two children and told his sister that he loved her. the recent progress happened about a week after stow had fluid drained from his brain. still his doctor is cautiously optimistic saying we are encouraged by bryan stow's continued neurological improvement and can report that he is beginning to talk again. yet, he still has serious injuries. >>> it is with great sadness that we have to report tonight tha

shane and josh ran down the stairs, free men after 781 days in prison. >> we are so happy we are freed and so relieved. >> two years in prison is too long. >> reporter: convicted last month of crossing the border illegally and spying and sentenced to eight more years. early today they were returned from iran's capital with the help of the swiss ambassador to iran. >> they are leaving right now, and i am very, very grateful for this. it has been a long time for them as we have done a lot of work. >> reporter: the families released a statement -- >> reporter: the release comes just a day before iran's president mahmoud ahmadinejad is to address the united nations. but eight days after he told nbc news exclusively their release was imminent. >> translator: i think these two will be freed in a couple of days. >> in a couple of days? >> translator: yes, in a couple of days. >> reporter: tonight, the two will rest in oman, finally reunited with their families. vicky nguyen, nbc bay area news. >> and loved ones here in bay area are beyond overjoyed, as well. many of them worked tirelessly ove

shane bauer and josh fattal have been released. claudine wong joins us live from uc berkeley with all of the developments this morning and where the two men are expected to be headed. good morning, claudine. >> reporter: good morning, tori. certainly we've been watching everything coming out of iran. we've been waiting for this confirmation that they've actually left the grounds of the prison because we've known since early this morning that there were a couple of cars with swiss diplomats there. they pulled up to the gates. they had not left yet. but they have now left. this all started overnight as word came from the attorney for these two men that all of the necessary signatures were in hand, then diplomatic vehicles were arriving at about 3:30 our time to the prison and then about 4:45 this morning. there was a -- about 4:45 this morning, there was word that the two men were freed after spending two years in that prison. details are still coming in about about how this happened. >> i'm sure there are so many things that we don'

they're going to be back in the united states within next few days. >> and now, shane bower did make a brief statement after getting off the plane. he said that quote, two years in prison is too long. and it's not clear when or if the hikers will return to the bay area. and according to a friend here in the bay area, sarah has recently expressed interest in returning to the bay area with her fiancee, shane bower. in berkeley abc 7 news. >> thank you, laura. >> president obama called this a wonderful day for the hikers and his administration speaking to reporters in new york after addressing the united nations general assembly, spoke foekusing on the thorny issue of the palestinian request for statehood. >> president obama didn't say they'd veto an attempt for palestinian statehood but it was implied. >> peace will not come at statements and resolution. if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished now. >> the u.s. wants to push leaders back to the negotiating table. >> we believe any lasting peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that israel faces every day. >

just one more signature is left, that's all they needed to free shane shane bauer and josh fattal.udge required to sign the papers completing the bail proceedings was scheduled to return from a trip but never appeared in court. so josh fattal and shane bauer will make a combined million dollars payment after being jailed for two years hopefully when the judge gets back. >>> a death row inmate in georgia has lost his final appeal for clemency. >> troy davis was found guilty of killing a savannah police officer in 1991. since then, seven of the nine witnesses who testified against him have recanted their statements. the final appeal to the georgia board of pardons and parolees, davis' family says there was too much doubt surrounding his case but the victim's family never doubted davis' guilt. >> for someone to ludicrously say that he is a victim -- we are victims. look at us. we have put one this stuff for 22 years. and it's time for justice. >> davis is scheduled to die tomorrow by lethal injection. >>> up next, zagat is out with its latest restaurant ratings. which bay area eaterie

shane bauer and josh fattal are back with their families, enjoying their first full day of freedom. the american hikers jumped into the arms of their loved ones in oman wednesday. they were released on $1 million bail after spending more than two years in an iranian prison. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. >> reporter: iranian authorities arrested fattal, bauer, and their friend sarah shroud on spying and tres passing charges while they were hiking on the iraq/iran border in july of 2009. shroud released last december. while in prison, bauer proposed to her and while apart, the two finally embraced on the tarmac. >> two years in prison is too long and we sincerely hope for the freedom of on this injustly prisoned people in america and in iran. >> reporter: it came before president obama addressed the united nations. iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad gives he's speech today. president obama says he is thrilled with the news. he, like the rest of his administration, believes the hikers should not have been held in the first place. >> they have a chance n

josh fattal and shane bauer are now in oman reunited with their loved ones.he arms of their loved ones. a court found them guilty of spying after they crossed into iran while hiking on the iraqi border but a judge granted their release after oman paid a million dollars to free them. >> we are so happy we are free and so relieved we are free. our deepest gratitude goes to his majesty sultan qaboos of oman for obtaining our release. >> among those waiting for the men was shane's fiancee sarah shourd. she was arrested with them but she was released last year. they will spend the next few days in oman getting reacquainted to rest up before coming back home here to the united states. one of the hikers is from minnesota, the other from the philadelphia area. but sarah shourd has been living in oakland so i would imagine maybe shane might come back with her because they are engaged. >> and find out more about their time in prison. oh. >> can you imagine the book deal that's going to come out and that you will? they have a lot to talk about. weather-wise, if you like

hikers are still unclear but we have been watching for developments overnight when the lawyer came for shane bauer and josh fattal all the necessary things have been obtained. we got word two embassy vehicles and diplomats from iran, this morning they report the lawyers were also seen going in. then 15 minutes ago confirm makes that they had been -- confirmation that they had been freed. we received a call from sarah shaw and we can only imagine how she is feeling now that they are being released. she was released on bail last year for medical reasons after the country put up her $500,000 bail. her release may be giving us the best indication of what we can expect next for these two hikers. she went straight to the embassy and thanked them for putting up her bail. there are reports that they put up a total of $1 million for their bail and that has not been confirmed but if that is in fact true we may very well see these two men at the embassy thanking them. the question is why did they do it? maybe they did it to ease tension in the region or humanitarian relation are reasons but all of that

>> yeah, it was a good shot. >> do you worry -- >> know what i told shane?'ma keep coming. i don't worry about no opponent that's fast. i don't worry about no opponent that's a southpaw. put him in front of me, see what he can do. i don't think i can lose. you can be this, that, be the king of the world. but i aim the new king. so i don't care. >> do you believe him when he says that? >> what he say, i was looking over there. >> that he's the new king, that he just doesn't care? >> they have to come up with a game plan to beat me. there's no game for him to beat me. >> so he cares? >> he has to. >> when he says that, he's fronting. >> i ain't gonna say he's fronting but there's no game plan on how to beat me. pacquiao, there's a game plan how to beat him. there's no way to beat me yet. >> what do you think when you see floyd hold court like that and do his thing? is there anything you want to tell him you haven't said already? >> no. >> tell me about september 17th. tell me. >> i'm gonna take my belt, man. >> tell me the game plan. >> well, i'm gonna brutali

until josh fattal and shane bauer bounded down the steps into their arms. smiles, tears, and a long kiss between shane and sarah shore, his fiancee and fellow prisoner until one year ago this week. >> we are so happen be we are free and so relieved we are free. two years in prison is too long. >> too long for the families as well. >> he lasted 781 days. couldn't be prouder. >> and you lasted 781 days. >> 781 days in iran's most notorious prison. one month on hunger strike protesting their detention. and just one face to face visit in iran. one million dollars in bail. as the detention dragged on the families' patience and strength wore thin. >> there must be moments when you feel that resolve or the energy weakening. >> i don't ever feel resolve, that is never. there are days i don't sleep. i don't sleep at night. >> president obama following the situation very closely and calling back to reporters at the u.n. in new york today he said that the release is wonderful news. >> we are thrilled. a wonderful day. >>> and, of course, for the friends of two -- of t

we'll continue to update you. >>> josh fattal and shane bauer are back home in the u.s.n sunday after two years of imprisonment in iran after being accused of spying. they were released after a deal brokered. they were arrested in 2009 along with american sarah shourd while hiking near the iran/iraq border. shourd was a released about a year ago. [ gunshots ] >>> medics in yemen say one person was killed in the capital today as security forces battle anti-government protesters. 38 people were killed saturday in clashes addressing his country, the president blamed terrorists for the deadly violence at an anti-government protest. he said that al qaeda is supported by the elements responsible for the violence. >>> saudi arabia's king is giving women the right to vote. king abdulla's decision doesn't take effect until after the next election. on thursday, saudi men will vote in municipal elections, only the second in 50 years. women still have a long way to go in the kingdom though. saudi arabia doesn't even allow them to drive. >>> president barack obama begins a new week o