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The Living Force
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/09/content_10171989.htm
Syria confirms detaining of two U.S. citizens for illegal entry
www.chinaview.cn 2008-10-09 20:24:34
DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that the country's security authorities have detained two U.S. citizens who entered illegally into its lands without visas, the official SANA news agency reported.
The report said that Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were arrested Thursday after they crossed into Syria with the help of smugglers.
The Syrian foreign ministry summoned the U.S. charge d'affairesin Damascus in the morning and informed him the detainment of the two Americans, it added.
The Syrian security authorities are interrogating them to find out how they entered without obtaining the required visas, said the report, adding that the two will be handed over to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus following a completion of "necessary measures."
On Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Beirut said in a statement that the two Americans, who are journalists working for the Jordan Times, have not been heard from since leaving their hotel in Beirut on Oct. 1.
The statement said that Luck arrived in Lebanon on Sept. 29 from Amman, Jordan for vacation, "the two reported to a friend on Oct. 1 that they were traveling from Beirut to Tripoli via Byblos on the same day. They were then to cross by land to Syria before returning to Jordan."
The two journalists had been expected back in Amman by Oct. 4, the Editor-in-Chief of the Jordan Times Daily Samir Barhoum said.
Syria confirms detaining of two U.S. citizens for illegal entry
www.chinaview.cn 2008-10-09 20:24:34
DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that the country's security authorities have detained two U.S. citizens who entered illegally into its lands without visas, the official SANA news agency reported.
The report said that Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were arrested Thursday after they crossed into Syria with the help of smugglers.
The Syrian foreign ministry summoned the U.S. charge d'affairesin Damascus in the morning and informed him the detainment of the two Americans, it added.
The Syrian security authorities are interrogating them to find out how they entered without obtaining the required visas, said the report, adding that the two will be handed over to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus following a completion of "necessary measures."
On Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Beirut said in a statement that the two Americans, who are journalists working for the Jordan Times, have not been heard from since leaving their hotel in Beirut on Oct. 1.
The statement said that Luck arrived in Lebanon on Sept. 29 from Amman, Jordan for vacation, "the two reported to a friend on Oct. 1 that they were traveling from Beirut to Tripoli via Byblos on the same day. They were then to cross by land to Syria before returning to Jordan."
The two journalists had been expected back in Amman by Oct. 4, the Editor-in-Chief of the Jordan Times Daily Samir Barhoum said.
