Obama thanks Talabani for efforts in releasing 2 Americans in Iran

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com:  U.S. President Barack Obama thanked his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani for his efforts, among other presidents, to release two Americans detained by Iranian authorities two years ago.   The two Americans were captured near the Iraqi-Iranian borders.   A White House statement, as received by IraqiNews.com, extended these thanks to Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, and the Swiss government for their efforts.   Kurdistan government spokesman reported last Friday that President Talabani intervened many times to the Iranian authorities to release the American detainees, who were charged for spying.   The two Americans were captured in June 2009, who had wrongly entered into the Iranian territories and charged for espionage by the Iranians. RM (TS)/SR 271