released from a prison there, but we're also hearing they're still in the prison. our sources in iran say they don't actually know if they left evin prison yet. imany official a a ay officials make sure they are free. released a statement by press tv that their detention sentence has been commuted and they have been released on bail, a lot of speculation is once they are released, they will head to iman. . the reason there is that speculation is it played a part in securing the release of sarah shourd, the third american hiker who was released last september. om omani government officials aren't confirming this. they did go into the prison earlier today and we're awaiting word when and if they will leave the country and in fact, they will be headed to muscat, oman. >> if you wanted to look at the politics behind all that and look at the relationship between oman and the u.s. mohammed, are you still connected with me? all right, we've lost connection with jamjoom, apologize for that. we'll be talking more about this incredible day for the fattal and bauer families and also for sarah shourd, the third hiker that was released over a year ago because of health concerns. susan candiotti has spent time with those families over the last couple of years and she joins us now live from new york. susan? >> hi, kyra. of course, the families, too, are waiting for official word that shane and josh have left the prison. as mohammed has reported, certainly we have word, officially, that the paperwork has been signed. that their sentences have been wiped away. that they are allowed to leave, you know, commuted sentences and that they will be allowed to leave the prison. of course, we're standing by for a visual verification that they actually, physically, left the building. so, the families, as we know, have been waiting in oman for more than a week ever since the president of iran, mahmoud ahmadinejad said that they would be released in a couple of days. it has been a very long and anxious wait for them. the expectation is that they will be transferred on a plane, just as sarah was, just over a year ago, over to oman, where there will be hugs and a reunion there. it is possible that josh and shane will say a few words in oman before leaving as soon as possible for the united states. the last time, because of the u.n. general assembly, they were unable to get a direct flight to new york. of course, the route isn't known for sure, but the expectation is they will try to make it to new york via washington, d.c. it's unclear at this point. and, hopefully, would have some public words to say just as sarah did the last time. kyra? >> susan candiotti there out of new york for us. susan, thanks. and one hour from now, president obama faces a high-stakes test of diplomacy. he's going to stand before the united nations and face two very different audiences. one, the international community on edge over u.s. efforts to block palestinian membership. the other, his republican challengers ready to pounce on any hint he's backing away from israel. brianna keilar live at the white house. how careful do you think the administration is being in trying to achieve the right balance here? >> overall in the actions the administrations have taken over months, you could argue that they tried to have a balance there. but if you look, kyra, at the president's actions in new york, what we're expecting him to say before the u.n. general assembly today, if you look at those things in isolation, this is not walking a very fine line. this is the president coming down firmly on the side of israel to say that this is not the venue for the palestinians to seek statehood and it's also the president coming down firmly on the side of a very important democratic voting and donor block. that, of course, being jewish americans and he has a lot of ground to make up here because he's made this community unhappy with some of his actions. you had in may, he called for the pre-1967 borders of israel to be the starting point for negotiation business between palestinians and israelis and angered many israelis and angered many jewish americans and there's been tension between president obama and prime minister netanyahu. top that off with the recent special election in new york. this was anthony weiner's former seat, chuck schumer's former seat. a large jewish american population and for the last time in almost a century, this district elected a republican. there's a lot of concern in the administration that they have lost ground with jewish americans, a constituency they cannot afford to lose as the president heads into a bruising re-election battle, kyra. >> brianna keilar at the white house, let's continue the conversation and head to the united nations now. that's where we'll find senior correspondent richard roth. president obama receiving a warm welcome. his first two years there. so, how much do you think that has changed this year? >> well, i think the arab spring fever that broke out has changed a little bit of the dynamics in the world. president obama had called in various speeches in the middle east and else where for more democra democracy. i don't think there's more opposition to president obama. some frustration with the continuing wars, but there's a lot of developments going on and a lot of issues going on inside the general assembly right now. moon has convened this 66th general session. a few speakers away the u.s. president, barack obama. now, obama is going to meet with prime minister netanyahu of israel and also palestinian president abbas. these will be individual meetings, not the type of direct face-to-face negotiations the united states wants. instead of what abbas wants, come is a formal application for statehood which he plans to submit after his speech on friday. the u.s. awaits with a veto there. there's a lot more negotiating and a lot of maneuvering still to come. there won't be instant statehood following this general assembly session, kyra. >> richard roth there from the u.n., thanks. we'll talk about it throughout the morning. in the middle east, the impassioned debate over palestinian statehood has ignited a number of flair ups. you see here it was those settlements that helped paralyze the peace talks with israel more than a year ago. palestinian authority has called for mass demonstrations and thousands of people held rallies in major cities and towns already across the region. for the most part, they have been peaceful. live coverage of president obama's speech to the u.n. general assembly. scheduled to begin less than an hour from now. 10:00 eastern. we will take it live. denied clemency. troy davis has less than ten hours to live now. they're outraged that the execution is going to go ahead, despite questions raised about the case. our david mattingly discussed that with the prosecutor that convicted davis of killing a police officer. >> stand up and testify. we won't let troy davis die. >> reporter: their last means of legal recourse seemingly exhausted. there may be little more for troy davis supporters to do but shout their frustrations and pray. >> stand up and testify. >> reporter: meanwhile, the prosecutor who sent davis to death row for the murder of savannah police officer, mark macphail, broke years of silence, calling the campaign to save davis unfair and unjust. >> we have felt that we were ethically downed to maintain our silence and express our opinions and judgments on the facts in court, which is where we have and every place where we have, we won. >> reporter: now retired, former d.a. spencer lawton believes his witnesses who testified against davis 20 years ago and later changed their stories or recanted did so under pressure from davis' supporters. and failed to appear credible, he says, in the eyes of the court. >> it has been a game of delay throughout. the longer the delay, the more time they have to create not doubt, not honest doubt, not real doubt, but the appearance of doubt. >> reporter: the georgia board of pardons and parole, again, refused to stop davis' execution, saying its decision was based on the totality of the information presented in this case. davis supporters say race was a factor. >> this is jim crowe in a new era. there's just too much doubt for this execution to continue. >> reporter: this is davis' fourth appointment with execution, another last-minute delay seems far less likely this time. families of davis and officer macphail both prepare for the end. >> it's like reliving a nightmare over and over. but the thing about it is, we have to stay strong in our faith. >> we have lived this for 22 years. we know what the truth is. and for someone to ludicroew lu say he is a victim. we are victims. look at us. we have put up with this stuff for 22 years and it is time for justice today. all right, breaking news to bring you now. we want to take you to iran, you know, they were locked up for two years. two american hikers. josh fattal and shane bauer convicted of spying, illegally entering the country. well, they now are going to be free any moment now. as we have reported, $500,000 bail for each one of them. our cnn producer is right there outside the prison where those american hikers are about to walk out. shirzad, we were wondering when this was going to happen. do you see them? do you expect them to step out at any moment? >> the lawyer just came out of the prison and he said that he has done all the formalities taking care of them and all that was expected of him and i asked the authorities when they would be released and he said four or five minutes. it has been five minutes, but they haven't been released yet. the authorities said very soon they will be released. the ambassador is here and the lawyer sitting next in the car and they're talking and we can't hear what they're saying. lots of reporters around and we just have to wait and see when they will come. we expect them to be released into the custody and that's why they're hanging around their car and when they're in the car, hopefully get a word out of them before they leave. >> who did you say is waiting to pick them up? who is in the car? who will be taking them? >> this is what we're led to believe by the prison authorities that says the prison car will bring the two americans and release them in the custody of the system. and the ambassador also confirmed it and said in the interest of the united states here, they will be released and then facilitate whatever they need to do. not concerned whether they're going to go to omen or whatever, i can't tell you yet. but we're hoping after they're released maybe we can get a word out of them and find out where the two americans are going to be heading soon. and when. >> and shirzad we know you are outside iran's most notorious prison where these two americans are about to walk out of. if you don't mind staying with us on the line and as soon as you see them, as soon as you can get more information just let us know. but, let's keep chatting, if you don't mind, for a minute. i just want to bring our viewers up to date right now. breaking news. we have been telling you about the two american hikers. josh fattal and shane bauer. they were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country two years ago. and now we are being told that $1 million in bail has been submitted. $500,000 each. so, these two can walk free. and our cnn producer shirzad is right there outside of iran's most notorious prison where they have been held. as soon as you see them, we'll keep you up live, keep connections with you. zain verjee, i know we were going to talk about a totally different story with you out of london, but i would like to get you to weigh in on this because you have been talking about this since yesterday when we got word they were going to walk free. what do you know about this prison and how this might unfold? you heard shirzad is there waiting for them and then the question is, where will they go next? our sources telling us, possibly oman. >> evin prison is one of the most notorious prisons in iran. as what could happen next, they're likely to go to a third country. reports that they would go to muscat in omen. i spoke to a source there a short while ago that confirmed to me, that would be the case. they were already on alert to pick up the two americans. that the families have been there for a while. also what would likely happen is that they would stay for medical checkups to make sure that they were okay. the source i spoke to indicated, too, that they would stay there overnight and then just get back to the u.s. as soon as possible. it's likely, i was told, too, that they would just fly on a commercial plane from iran to oman and all that was being waited for was which air strip they were going to land on and then things would happen from there. but, again, it's unclear how quickly this would happen. but if the previous person that was in evin prison as part of this group, sarah shourd she was released almost immediately and ended up in omen and ended up home very, very quick. >> zain verjee live for us out of london, thanks. just outside that prison in tehran waiting for those two american hikers that will finally be set free. they are supposed to walk out of that prison any minute now. we'll take a quick break. we'll be right back. not white collar or blue collar or no collars. we are business in america. and every day we awake to the same challenges. but at prudential we're helping companies everywhere find new solutions to manage risk, capital and employee benefits, so american business can get on with business. ♪ your core competency is...competency. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle...and go. you can even take a full-size or above, and still pay the mid-size price. i'm getting an upgrade. [ male announcer ] as you wish, business pro. as you wish. go national. go like a pro. now through january earn a free day with every two rentals. find out more at nationalcar.com. it's real milk full of calcium and vitamin d. and tastes simply delicious. for those of us with lactose intolerance... lactaid® milk. the original 100% lactose-free milk. we're now being told those prison cars are pulling up to that prison in iran. the evin prison there where the two american hikers are about to be set free. let's take you back quickly to our cnn producer shirzad who is right over there. what can you tell us? >> the car carrying them is about to go up there. looks like they're beginning to go over to the gate and get them out. let's see what happens. going through the security check right now. >> okay. pa >> past the security check and going up the hill to go to the prison gate. >> they've gone through security and they are headed up to the gate. how long do you think it will take for them to retrieve the two american hikers? >> the ambassador at the checkpoint now. walking up the hill. >> can you see the hikers yet? >> no, not yet. the cars are, the two cars -- we don't know if he's going to bring them out or the ambassador is going to go in and bring them out. >> what's the conversation like there at the gate, shirzad? >> excuse me. >> what is the conversation going on at the gate? >> someone has overheard the prison authority saying the two arma -- >> let's go ahead and set the scene for our viewers. if you're just tuning in to cnn, breaking news now. >> it's 2:00 p.m. iran time. waiting outside evin prison gates. the lawyer came in about two hours ago, went inside and handed over the documents and the proof that they had been paid and been in there for over an hour and a half and went straight to this ambassador's car and before he went in, he said that prison authorities have told them everything is okay and prisoners will be released in five minutes. has already been 15 minutes. but the cars have gone past checkpoint and inside the prison and hoping they will be coming out soon with the two american hikers. >> okay, shirzad. we'll keep the phone lines hot and you let us know as soon as you see josh fattal and shane ba auer. the two american hikers about to be free. we're going to bring it to you live as soon as it happens. shirzad, let us know. we'll take a quick break. 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[ junior ] ...and they've helped build my business. we continue our breaking news coverage, possibly minutes even seconds away those two american hikers about to walk out of iran's most notorious prison, the evin prison. our sharzad has been giving us a minute-by-minute play. about to be set free after $1 million bail. shirzad, anything else you can tell us? >> the checkpoint for the police motorcycle escort has gone up to the gate, supposedly to wait for the irani cars to come out and hopefully take a look at it and make sure they are in the cars, if they bring them out of this gate. but usually or sometimes they take them out of the back door and without anybody seeing them. that's what happened last time. but we have no choice but to wait here at the main gate. >> obviously, this is an important story for us because they are two americans, but i'm curious, has there been any kind of reaction so far in the iranian media, shirzad? >> very little. they carried the news that they had been accepted and paid and that was the end of it. and it's been approved and that's about it. they didn't make a big splash, but it was mentioned in the news. >> so, shirzad, do we know if josh and shane were kept together or in solentary confinement? >> i have no idea. >> okay. shirzad, please, stay with us. stay on the line with us. we want to continue following this story. if you're just tuning in and you are waiting for special coverage oof the president's speech, hold on. we are minutes away from that. but, just to keep you updated. the two american hikers, josh fattal and shane bauer who were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country are about to be free from iran's ev evin prison. the bail has been paid and we're right there outside the prison at the gates. our shirzad reporting to us. the swiss ambassador, two cars have gone through the gates waiting to get the two american hikers inside their cars. as soon as that happens, it will be any minute now. okay, let's take it to new york now where our wolf blitzer and the best political team on television will set the stage for the president's comments about palestinian statehood. just after the break, our wolf blitzer and special coverage of the president's speech, next. when an investment lacks discipline, it's never this obvious. introducing investment discipline etfs from russell. visit russelletfs.com r a prospectus, containing the investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information. read and consider it carefully before investing. 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