The two American hikers imprisoned in Iran may have to wait a while longer before going home, thanks to a power struggle between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the clerics who control the countryâs courts. A judiciary official denied Ahmadinejadâs statement that the two Americansâ release was imminent, saying, âThe two Americans are going to stay in prison for a bit longer,â and that âreports of their imminent release are wrong." Ahmadinejad said yesterday that the Americans, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, would be freed âin a couple of days.â An Omani official said a plane has been sent to retrieve the Americans if they are released.
