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Student Missed Ill-Fated Hike Into Iran

By MICHELLE LOCKE
,
AP
posted: 2 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO
comments: 141
filed under: World News
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SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 2) -- An American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn't go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he had a cold — a twist of fate that prevented him from mistakenly wandering into Iran where his three friends were reportedly detained.
The Swiss Embassy in Tehran was working Sunday to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said. Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran.
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Shon Meckfessel sat out the hike because he had a cold, his grandmother, Irene Meckfessel, told The Associated Press from her home in Carmichael, Calif. He called her Saturday from the American Embassy in Baghdad, she said.
The four had traveled to Turkey, then entered Iraq on Tuesday and traveled to Sulaimaniyah, according to the Kurdish regional government. On Thursday, one stayed behind while the other three took a taxi to the resort town of Ahmed Awaa, it added.
The regional government's statement said the three got lost during an excursion and were detained by Iranian authorities at the border.
The area where the three disappeared is a popular hiking destination known for a picturesque waterfall and rocky scenery as well as a thick growth of fruit and nut trees.
Camping equipment and two backpacks apparently belonging to the Americans were found in the area and it seemed they were hiking above the waterfall when they accidentally crossed the border, a Kurdish security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
Shortly before their capture, the three contacted a fourth member — Meckfessel — to say they had entered Iran by mistake and were surrounded by troops, the official said.
Iran's state TV said the Americans were arrested after they did not heed warnings from Iranian border guards. It cited a "well-informed source" in the Interior Ministry.
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Latest Photos From Iran
Protesters in nearly 80 cities rallied Saturday to demand the release of demonstrators imprisoned during Iran's disputed election. Here, an Iranian protester holds green flags and ribbons during a rally in front of the Iranian embassy in Rome.
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One of the missing Americans has been identified by Kurdish authorities as Joshua Fattal. His mother, Laura Fattal of Elkins Park, Pa., issued a brief statement Sunday.
"My husband and I are only concerned about Josh" and the two others, she said.
Meckfessel and another of the missing hikers were both studying Arabic, said Irene Meckfessel, who raised her grandson. Shon Meckfessel had most recently studied at the University of Washington in Seattle.
"He's very much interested in people and languages and he's working on a Ph.D. in linguistics," she said.
In Iran, Swiss diplomats have asked for consular access to the Americans if their presence in Iran is confirmed, Olivieri told the AP. Switzerland has represented U.S. interests in Iran since American diplomats were taken hostage at the embassy in Tehran 30 years ago.
"Our embassy in Tehran is in contact with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and is trying to get a confirmation of the situation," she said.
The State Department, which requested the help, knows about Switzerland's efforts, said spokesman Robert Wood in Washington.
Associated Press writers Ron Todt in Philadelphia and Yahya Barzanji in Baghdad contributed to this report.
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Eye on the News
A helicopter drops water to extinguish a fire which was set by striking workers in a bid to block riot police from storming the compound of the Ssangyong Motors plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Aug. 5.
Aum Jung-Seok, AFP / Getty Images
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-08-02 18:12:22
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ThePips9502

09:04 PMAug 05 2009

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Atzmonglenn

05:03 PMAug 04 2009

Planted provocateurs who wanted to be detained for agiprop reasons.

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ignrncisbls

10:49 AMAug 04 2009

hahahhahahahaha just a friendly evening stroll on the Iraq/Iran border eh? Most likely they are US Agents...but if it isnt...leave them there. That gets a couple of the dumbest people I have seen in awhile off US soil.

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Joanjmak05

04:28 PMAug 03 2009

I do not feel sorry for these three BONE-HEADS, they were warned not to enter and they "supposedly got lost". I wish them a safe return to where ever they are from, and if they are kept there it's their faults.

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MDanly

04:16 PMAug 03 2009

It is very obvious that these "'student hikers" were CIA agents/provocateurs trying to sneak into Iran. The government in this country has been denounced by our nation & Israel as neo-fascistic(which, in certain respects, may be true) & anti-Semitic (which It definitely is not, BTW)This is the next country on our "subvert, attack,& /or destroy" list. It is followed byVenezuela, with It's democratically elected Marxist-Leninist regime. (How 20th century!)Then, the next on our enemies list are the populations & Governments of Lebanon & Syria that we "civilized" & "Christian" Westerners must destroy...

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Violethenderson

03:15 PMAug 03 2009

these young men thaught that america is at falt as most young libs do they condem their country and their government thinking that other countries a better than their own..they do not understand that freedom is not free it cost someone their life or freedom to make sure we are safe..one young man told me that you do not fight for freedom..go figure what did he think just cause you want to be free that means no one can attack your freedom..LOL..ah to be young and have the wisdom of the ages...and as for iran what did these young men think that just cause it is 2009 that iran or muslims have progressed and are civilized now...??? no way before islam came to iran that country was good/civilized but as usuall islam being what it is it turnd this once civilized nation became dark and backwards...and what it is now...sad and dark...not good for women GREAT FOR MEN...they can do what ever they want with no one against them...but let one woman put red lipstick and she be dead...hope these kids...

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An American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn\'t go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he had a cold _ a twist of fate that prevented him from mistakenly wandering into Iran where his three friends were reportedly detained.