they're shane bauer and josh fattal. i have shane's brother-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 a

. >> 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 that these americans are coming back to

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

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 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

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

media that shane bauer and josh fattal would be freed as a humanitarian gesture. over 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 gir

bauer, josh fattal and sarah shourd were arrested along the iraq border. the families began repeated pleas to officials, saying the three strayed by mistake, but iran refused to release them, charging them with spying and trespassing. by december of 2009, they had hired an attorney. 2010 would bring the first visit and first release. in may, the americans were reunited with their family, and sarah shourd's mother announced that shane and sarah were engaged. then she was released on bail for medical reasons. the country of oman paid the bail, and she thanked them and made their own plea. >> all of my efforts will go into helping to get the same freedom for my fiancee, shane bauer, and for my friend, josh fattal, because i can't enjoy my freedom without them. >> reporter: the trial would be delayed over and over. in february, it began, sarah shourd was ordered back. she failed to return. later, both men were convicted of trespassing, sentenced to eight years in prison. but oman would once again play a key role, sending a plane, later a million to secure thei

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

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 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

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.

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

josh fattal and shane bauer arrived in oman under $1 million bail deal. also on hand was sarah shourd freed by iran last year. the u.c. berkeley grads were detained in july of 2009 hiking along the iran/iraq border? we are so happy we are free and so relieved we're free. our gratitude goes to sultan for obtaining our release. >> two years in prison is too long. we hope for the freedom of other unjustly imprisoned people in america and beyond. >> shourd, bauer got engaged while they were in prison. bauer and fattal are expected to stay in oman for a few more days before flying back to the u.s. >> back in the bay area, san mateo county judge is expected to make a key ruling today on how a lawsuit from pg&e can proceed. it involves 300 plaintiffs who are suing pg&e for the blast in san bruno a year ago that killed eight people and destroyed more than three dozen homes. the judge is expected to decide the trial structure. the plaintiff want a trial to divide claims in category like physical injury and property damage and try a few of them and apply rulings to

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 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

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'

however witnesses waiting outside say shane bauer and josh fattal have not left the prison compound yet. >>> city of san jose facing a grim outlook for next year's budget, a report shows they may have to close all branch libraries and community centers and layoff crossing guards and park rangers with a potential $115 million deficit, city may also have to raise taxes or rework some of the city pensions. >>> trade in new york -- today in new york president barack obama will try to convince mahmoud ahmadinejad not to ask the security council for statehood. they are asking them to return to peace nobody nations with -- negotiations with israelis. >>> they helped to open a factory in fremont which is now in danger. the loan came under the scrutiny of house republicans under the new information found with solyndra. they are looking to take away any remaining funds and help transfer for damage caused by hurricane irene. top expect tis from -- executives are being called to testify about a half billion dollar federal loan to the now bankrupt company but lawyers say they plan to invoke 5th amen

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

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

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 three appears to be close to an end. >> we have followed this very closely and we are encouraged by w

until josh fattal and shane bauer bounded down the steps into their arms. smiles, tears and 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

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 celebratin

josh fattal, shane p with auer could be freed today. we'll tell you what their lawyer is saying about their fate. >>> also, that apple juice, is there arsenic in it? it's true for some brands, but we'll tell you why the fda isn't worried, but dr. oz is. let's start in nevada. federal investigators are on their way, in particular to reno. they're trying to pinpoint the cause of a deadly plane crash at an air raid. these r terrifying moments caught on tape. >> at least three people killed, dozens more hurt when that plane slammed into the crowd. it barely missed a grand stand that was packed with spectators. witnesses say they thought they were going to die and they are now calling the pilot of that plane a hero. >> i think that that pilot, in the last two seconds, pulled up because he saw the bleachers and i would guess he probably saved 200 to 300 other people. and i don't mean any disrespect to the injured, but i would consider him to be a hero because he pulled up and did what i think was his best job to hit the target. >> our dan sim

hikers josh fattal and shane bauer have been freed. now, we were told a few minutes ago from our producer in iran that omani government officials were seen entering the prison a short while ago. we know they have been freed, we don't know where they're going next, but a lot of speculation their first stop, once they leave iran. last year when the hiker sarah shourd was released her first stop out of tehran was here. the reason for that being that the omanis had paid her bail. a lot of speculation that they had been intricately released. no confirmation on that yet, but officials were seen going into the prison and we do know that those two hikers have been freed. >> mohammed, about the conditions of their release. it's a bail under which they may be called back for trial. i can't imagine they're ever going to go back to iran, is that actually part of the condition of their release? >> we don't yet know all the conditions of the release. we know the bail has been posted, that's according to the lawyer and according to two judges that si

josh fattal and shane bauer arrived at new york's kennedy airport. last wednesday, pictures right now, released from an iranian jail after being held on two years for spy charges. their first stop was oman, reuniting with family members. todd baxter was on the commercial flight with fattal and bauer from oman to new york. todd, you have an interesting perspecti perspective. what did they say or what did you observe? >> i was sitting in a different section but i did see them come on the plane. josh came on first. a couple family members with him. 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 briefl

josh fattal's mother described their time in jail as highly organized. they'd read books and even used water bottles as weights to try to stay physically and mentally fit. seth stone, cbs news, new york. >>> getting better at the pumps. how far prices have fallen and what we can expect down the road. >>> not your typical sound coming from at&t park. what attracted thousands of people wanting high notes over the high flies. >>> i'm dennis o'donnell, coming up on game day in a couple minutes we have two first place teams in the nfl. locker room reports coming up from both. marty lourie, he has the one player he thinks the giants have to get to get them back into world series contention next year. give me a hint. >> he is a shortstop, a bay area kid, he can be a lead-off hitter, and he is gonna be in the playoffs. he is gonna be a free agent. i think the giants should inquire. >> what is this player's name? you're gonna have to watch ""game day"" coming up with marty liu we're and the riders and 'niners next. >> announcer: "eyewitness news" is brought to yo

cnn is reporting that the uc- berkeley alumni josh fattal and shane bauer have been released from an iranian prison but cbs source on the ground are telling us that the two are still in custody because they are filling out paperwork. this morning, their attorney said that iranian courts have approved a million-dollar bail- for-freedom deal. >>> a shootout in san francisco's bayview district has injured a 5-year-old girl. she is recovering from gunshot wound this morning. officers are still searching for two suspects. >>> and pg&e will be purging gas from a pipeline in san mateo county starting at 7 a.m. it's part of an ongoing series of pipeline tests in the wake of last year's deadly explosion in san bruno. >>> attorneys in georgia plan to file a last-minute appeal to halt the execution of a convicted killer who reignited the death penalty debate. troy davis is scheduled for lethal injection this evening. the state's pardons board rejected clemency for him yesterday. he was convicted of killing an off-duty police officer. his attorney says it was based on flawed recanted testimony.

josh fattal spoke right after that. gave another short statement. said just hours after we left prison we were able to swim in the calm waters of the gulf. we stayed up all night with our loved ones. these experiences will be with us for the rest of our lives. we want to thank oman for welcoming our families. he thanked the ambassadors for their hospitality. it was a short press conference. we saw their families there. we saw it very short in the room. they didn't take any questions from the press. we know they will be depart go man to come back home probably in the next 30 to 40 minutes. >> did they say anything about how they are feeling? they must be incredibly exhausted? >> they did look as though they were still tired, not as tired as they looked when they first got here a couple of nights ago. they certainly looked happy to be with their families. at one point omani officials presented bouquets and flowers to susan bower, josh fattal and sarah shourd. everyone beaming and looking happy. we're told both men have undergone medical tests and also

josh fattal and jane bauer spoke about their ordeal today at a new york city hotel. >> reporter: josh fattal and shane bauer are finally home. they arrived in new york sunday morning. for the first time the two men talked about their imprisonment. >> sarah, josh and i have experienced a taste of the iranian regime's brutality. we have been held in almost total isolation from the world and everything we love. >> fattal and bauer's or deal began in 2009 when they were detained after mistakenly crossing the iran-iraq border. all three were accused of illegal entry into iran and espionage. shourd was released for medical ropes a year agoing leaving fattal and bauer in iran. >> when sayre would was released, our -- >> they were led to meet a surprise visitor. >> the first thing he said, he said, let's go home. >> the gulf state was instrumental in securing their freedom on $1 million bail. the men expressed their gratitude but had strong words for their can'tors. >> we applaud the iranian authorities for milliony making -- finally making the right decision regarding or case, but we want to

today the court ordered shane bauer and josh fattal to pay $500,000 each. that was the same amount paid by their friend sarah shourd. the family said it's a quote huge relief to read that they are going to be released. we hope to say more when they were finally more in our arms. >>> the transportation secretary came to see the work at the new oakland control tower everyone though the funding drags on -- even though the funding drags on. tom vacar looks at what is to come. >> reporter: if the senate doesn't act by friday, the faa's money runs dry again stopping this. the aviation project cold again. >> american jobs building american infrastructure. >> reporter: if the faa fails to act, the project would be stopped just like last month. >> millions of the dollars were wasted through that inaction. >> reporter: many of those who were idle work right here. >> in the construction industry, you don't get paid if you don't work. there's no paid vacation, there's no paid leave of absence. >> there isn't another job to send us to, we just get sent home. >> and >> r

a lawyer for josh fattal an shane bauer says he's hopeful the release will happen today. the pair was detained in 2009 after apparently straying across the iraqi border into iran. an iranian court convicted them of spying. they insist they are innocent. >>> do you have a boomerang kid at home? that's one who has moved back -- moved out but has come back to live at home. after you said your good-byes, now what? at 2:00 eastern time we'll give you rules to live by with your adult kids. our financial expert karen lee will be along.

shane bauer and josh fattal reflected on their release two years after they were taken into custody. and nbc's francis coe reports. >> reporter: americans shane bauer and josh fattal spoke out on their third day of freedom. the two gave a brief press conference in oman, the country which paid their $1 million bail leading to their release. >> it was the most incredible experience of our lives. we will 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: they were moments treasured after the men spent two years in a prison with charges of espionage and illegally crossing a border. after delays and disappointment, wednesday was the milestone moment reflected upon by fattal and bauer in their prepared statements today. >> just hours after we left prison, 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've ever seen. these experiences will be with us for the rest of our lives

the lawyer for jailed american hikers josh fattal and shane bauer say he's hopeful the pair will be free today. the men are let go, they will likely be flown to oman. why is the hikers lawyer so confident that they are going to be released this weekend? >> reporter: we've spoken with the lawyer for the hikers several times. reason he's optimistic he found out that basically what's remaining to be done is the signature of one more judge before the hikers can be released. the lawyer walked us through a very complicated process that needs to take place. essentially one of the judges in the case has signed documents stating that bail has been paid. according to the lawyer. there's still one more judge who needs to sign the document stating that bail has been posted. once that happens the lawyer can witness that document and he can take it to another government agency and at that point he says hopefully the hikers can be released. now up until the past hour when we've been speaking to the lawyer, he's expressing optimism they could be released today. we don't have anything definitive. omani o

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

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

on "the early show," after two years in iranian prison, the big return of josh fattal and josh fattal. see you tomorrow. >> caption colorado, llc comments@captioncolorado.com >>> good morning. president obama turns up the heat on both sides of the isle, saying that republican policies would cripple the nation and his most liberal supporters should stop crying an

they have confirmed shane bauer and josh fattal have been released. joining us live she is in berkeley to tell us all that has been happening overnight, here is more. >> reporter: two cars filled with the diplomats are approaching the gates in tehran. we are still not sure if shane bauer and josh fattal are in those cars now that they have been officially released, we are assuming they are very close to leaving those grounds. now word came overnight that they -- that all the paperwork that was necessary to get them out was in hand. they were seen arriving 3:30 our time and at 4:45 we go the word multiple sources confirming they were officially free. we did get reaction from one berkeley student who was relieved to hear the news. >> with wow, i am really glad they made it, that is a long time to be there. >> reporter: it has been more than two years and may be our best indication of what comes next comes from sarah shaw. she was also released on the same amount of bail and the first thing she did was to publicly thank him and others key to her release.

but that was the last time bauer and josh fattal saw their family in prison. then, sarah shourd was released on humanitarian grounds due to health problems. right now on ktvu you can watch the raw video on the reunion with the families in oman. just click on the hikers tab. >>> and the man cried today as he was arraigned on criminal charges, 33-year-old paul castillo facing eight charges, including murder. his attorney says his client has been placed on suicide watch. the district attorney says that castillo shot a man at a san jose gas station last friday, then carjacked and kidnapped 60- year-old cindy nguyen. her body was found saturday morning. >>> and we are learning more details on how michelle le's body was found. the spokesperson was with her search dog on saturday when her dog suddenly stopped. >> she had stopped by a flat area and was waiting patiently for me. i approached her, noticed remains. >> reporter: authorities determined the remains were those of the missing nursing student. mcgonigal's own daughter, amber was kidnapped and killed in 2009. h

shane bauer and josh fattal rning at new >>> the two cal graduates detained in iran for more than two years are back on american soil tonight. shane bars and josh fattal landed this morning at new york's jfk airport, at a manhattan press conference they talked about life, what it was like in jail, and why they believe they were in prison. >> this was never about you crossing the unmarked border between iran and iraq. we were held because of our national national. >>> the two were sentenced to 8 years in prison for spying and then released on a million dollars bail. a third hiker, sarah shourd, was released last year. >>> checking some bay area headlines, an alaska bay area flight oust of oakland had to make an emergency landing. the pilot reported a bird strike. the plane landed safely and was taken out of service for inspection. the passengers were rebooked. >>> hundreds of people are expected tuesday at a memorial for nursing student michelle le. the event will be held on the four-month anniversary of her disappearance and 10 days after her body was found. le's family said the event

iran's president said a few days ago he expects josh fattal and shane bauer to be released. they were arrested two years ago on spy charges. >>> three people are hurt in india after a bomb went off at this private hospital. it happened in the heavily visited area of agra where the taj mahal is located. the bomb went off in the reception area blowing out the windows. last weekend a briefcase bomb killed 11 people in new delhi. former senator charles percy is dead. the republican served in the senate for nearly 20 years and eventually became the chairman of the powerful foreign relations committee. in recent years he was battling alzheimer's disease. he died today at the washington, d.c. hospice. he was 91 years old. >>> federal investigators are on the scene of a deadly plane crash at a reno, nevada, air show. they are trying to determine what caused the vintage p-51 mustang to lose control and slam into the ground, killing its veteran pilot and six others. dozens of people were injured. our dan simon is in reno. what are you learning about this crash, dan? >> reporter: well,

but shane bauer, josh fattal free again this morning, released minutes ago. live in the newsroom, terry mcsweeney, abc7 news. >> all the happening right now, of course nobody has seen the two men yet. the minute we do we'll let you know. san francisco police are looking for the gunman that fired a stray bullet that hit a 5-year-old girl on her way home from school prompting outrage in the troubled bayview district. amy hollyfield is live at san francisco general hospital. how is the little girl? >> she is recovering okay. in stable condition. they think she does not have life threatening injuries but police are looking for the men who fired yesterday afternoon. she was walking home from school. it was 4:30 at third and palou in the bayview. she was with her father. who says he heard the gunfire but it wasn't until his daughter fell to the ground that he realized she had been hit. >> i came out and look at the street. i seen everybody running, the girl on the ground. i seen her father pick her up. he was distraught and upset. >> she is stabilize, doing well. s

. >> reporter: in their first interview back in the united states, josh fattal and shane bauer talked about two regrets. >> the irony is that sarah, josh and i oppose policies of america toward iran. >> reporter: the iranian government accused the three of spying. this past wednesday while exercising at the prison, the men got good news that they were free. >> from that day, the guards took us downstairs, they fingerprinted us and they gave us street clothes. they didn't tell us where we were going. >> reporter: after being released with a million dollars bail deal, the men then went to oman where they were greeted with relatives and shourd who was released last year. today they said they regretted the hike. >> we did not know if we crossed the border. we will probably never know. >> reporter: the men were inprisoned for 781 days they are asking for their privacy while they get settled in at home. >>> while glad her son is home, josh fattal's mother stated that her son's long term in prison was politically motivated. >> we know belgium bikers were in jail, french citizens, and they we

josh fattal and shane bauer stayed in seclusion with their families in the persian gulf state of oman. that was just hours after iran released them on $1 million bail. meanwhile, friends and neighbors back in the u.s. are anxiously awaiting their return. >> got a lump. my wife started to cry. >> i can't wait to see them. i'm going to hug them myself, you know? >> fattal and bauer were arrested along with sarah shourd in iran while hiking along the iraq-iran border. they were accused of spying. shourd was released after a year. it's not clear when josh fattal and shane bauer will return to the u.s. >>> dozens of protestors have taken over a hall on the uc- berkeley campus after marching across campus. the protest began at noon over the proposed tuition hikes and budget cuts for the uc system. tuition could rise as much as 16% per year for four years. police say there have been one confrontation with the university police officer involving pepper spray. >>> it's being called the biggest nursing strike in northern california history. [ chanting ] [ singing ] >> as many as 23,000 register

josh fattal and shane bauer released five days ago, flew to new york yesterday. they say the only reason they were detained is because they are americans. drew levinson reports. >> reporter: josh fattal and shane bauer are back on u.s. soil and revealing what two years inside an iranian prison was like. >> 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: also at the new york press conference, sarah shourd. the three friends were hiking along the iraq/iran border in 2009 when iranian authorities arrested them. while in prison, bauer and shourd were engaged. she was let go last year. but bauer and fattal were found and, in august, convicted of being spies. >> we were convicted of espionage because we are american. it's that simple. no evidence was ever presented against us. >> reporter: the two men were sentenced to eight years in prison. it's not clear why they were released. but iran's foreign ministry calls it a gesture of islamic mercy. they were first reunited with the

just one more signature is left, that's all they needed to free shane shane bauer and josh fattal. the judge 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 e

shane bauer and josh fattal may be free men as early as thursday. cbs news has confirmed that iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad has confirmed they will be released once they make bail of $500,000 each. the release has been promised before, but this time may be different. some suggest the release may be timed with his visit to the united nations later this month. bauer and fattal have been in prison are for the past two years. they were arrested for illegally crossing into iran. they are also accused of spying for the united states, charges that carry the death penalty in iran. the 2 u. c. berkley grads were given an eight year prison sentence. the iranian lawyer in that case remains optimistic. but there may be one more roadblock on the path to freedom. the iranian judiciary has the final say in such cases. they haven't formally cleared their release. the supreme ruler ayatollah khomeini has the final say and he often takes a hard stance against the united states. the u.s. state department has not issued a final statement, only saying it's too l

. >> reporter: shane bauer and josh fattal made their first public stop in the u.s. late this afternoon at a jam-packed new york city hotel. the 29-year-olds called themselves hostages and political prisoners. >> the only explanation for our prolonged detention is the 32 years of mutual hostility between america and iran. >> reporter: the duo also provided the first real description of their lives inside tehran's notorious ef inprison. >> many times, too many times we heard the screams of other prisoners being beaten. and there was nothing we could do to help them. solitary confinement was the worst experience of all of our lives. it was a nightmare that sarah had to endure for 14 months. >> reporter: sarah shourd has been arrested and detained along with bauer and fattal in 23009 when the three had been hiking near the iran-iraq border. they were all accused of spying for the u.s. shourd was released a year ago. the three were reunited on wednesday in the persian gulf nation of oman. it was particularly emotional for shourd and bauer who gotten gauged while in priso