Syria says it is holding 2 missing Americans (journalists) for illegal entry from Lebanon

[Nambe]

Source: Associated Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) _ Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon eight days ago were arrested Thursday in Syria after they crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border with the help of smugglers, Syrian officials said.

Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were detained after they crossed into the country, the Syrian foreign ministry said. It said the two will be handed over to the U.S. Embassy following a completion of "necessary measures."

An official with the U.S. Embassy in Damascus confirmed two Americans are being held by Syrian authorities and added that the embassy was trying to confirm their identities. ...

Read more: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-ml-syria-missing-americans,0,1237689.story

[Arctic Dave]

1. Two journalist "on vacation" caught

illegally crossing into Syria from Lebanon? Hmmmm. What is that smell?

[Posteritatis]

2. I just smell journalists

The particularly good ones never have a terribly strong self-preservation instinct. ;)

[Arctic Dave]

3. As is obvious by their cover story.

I wonder what their response when they were caught, "What? This isn't the day tour to Damascus"?

[Eugene]

4. BBC: Syria releases American reporters

Source: BBC News

Page last updated at 20:33 GMT,
Thursday, 9 October 2008 21:33 UK

Syria releases American reporters

Two American journalists arrested for entering Syria
illegally have been released into US custody, the US
state department said.

Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23, are now at the
US embassy in Damascus and were said to be in "good
shape".

The pair were detained after trying to cross the border
from Lebanon aided by smugglers, Syrian officials said.

They were reported missing by after they failed to
return to Jordan last weekend from a holiday in
Lebanon.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7661122.stm