Families of detained hikers given hope

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Three American hikers detained in Iran since last July may receive some help from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a relative of one of the hikers says.

Alex Fattal, the brother of hiker Josh Fattal, said in an appearance on CNN's "American Morning" Wednesday that statements made by Ahmadinejad indicate he is willing to ask the judiciary to expedite the hikers' case.

Ahmadinejad, who arrived in New York Tuesday night for a U.N. General Assembly meeting, said the courts in his country are entirely independent and cannot be interfered with.

However, he added that he could ask "that the judiciary expedites the process and gives it its full attention . . .and basically look at the case with maximum leniency."

Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Shara Shourd were arrested in late July after they accidentally strayed into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdish region.