Aunt says American woman freed from Iran is returning to US with mom, plans news conference

Aunt says freed hiker is returning to US with mom

BERKELEY, Calif. — The aunt of an American woman released from Iran this week after more than a year in prison says her niece is preparing to return to the U.S. and plans to hold at a news conference in New York.

Sarah Shourd’s aunt, Karen Sandys (san-dees), told The Associated Press on Friday that Shourd and her mother will travel from Oman to New York on Saturday.

Family spokeswoman Samantha Topping says Shourd and her mom will speak to reporters at a New York hotel at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Sandys says Shourd is happy to be free and is focused on securing the freedom of her friends, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer.

The three University of California, Berkeley graduates were arrested and imprisoned by Iran in July 2009.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — The aunt of an American woman released from an Iranian prison says her niece plans to hold a news conference in New York.

Sarah Shourd’s aunt, Karen Sandys (san-dees), told The Associated Press on Friday that Shourd and her mother will travel Saturday from Oman to New York.

Sandys says the news conference is planned for Monday, when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

Sandys says her niece is focused on securing the freedom of her friends, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer.

The three University of California, Berkeley graduates were arrested and imprisoned by Iran in July 2009. Their families say they were on an innocent hiking trip along the border of Iran and Iraq.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. Corrects that news conference is scheduled for Sunday, not Monday. Makes minor changes.)