U.S. hopes for quick release of hikers

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States is hopeful for the quick release of two remaining detained American hikers in Iran, after Iran's president pledged to pardon them.

Clinton said Tuesday the U.S. was “encouraged” by the comments from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd), who said he was working to have Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal freed. The two have been in prison in Iran for more than two years since they and a third American were arrested after straying across the Iran-Iraq border. The three were convicted on spy-related charges. The third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released last year after the payment of a $500,000 bail.

Earlier Tuesday, the lawyer representing Bauer and Fattal said a similar bail had been set for each of them.