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Page last updated at 20:33 GMT, Thursday, 9 October 2008 21:33 UK
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Syria releases American reporters

An undated photograph of Holli Chmela
US state department officials said the pair were in "good shape"

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.

An undated photograph of Taylor Luck
Their disappearance had prompted an appeal by the US embassy in Beirut
The US embassy in Beirut said the pair, who have both reportedly worked for the Jordan Times in Amman, travelled to Lebanon on holiday on 29 September from Jordan, and had told a friend on 1 October that they were planning to travel to Tripoli that day.

They were then going to cross by land into Syria before returning - again by land - to Jordan on 4 October.

The alarm was raised by their families when they failed to return to Jordan at the weekend as expected.

Their disappearance prompted the US embassy in Beirut to appeal for information on their whereabouts.

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SEE ALSO
US citizens 'missing in Lebanon'
08 Oct 08 |  Middle East
Country profile: Lebanon
12 Jul 08 |  Country profiles
Country profile: Syria
01 Oct 08 |  Country profiles

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