U.S. governor secures release of American journalist jailed in Sudan

U.S. governor secures release of American journalist jailed in Sudan

The president of Sudan agreed Friday to release an American journalist and two Chadians jailed on charges of espionage after meeting with a U.S. governor, a spokesman for Gov. Bill Richardson said.

Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, met with President Omar al-Bashir soon after arriving in Khartoum. Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said Chicago Tribune journalist Paul Salopek and his driver and interpreter would be released Saturday.

"The governor asked for their release on humanitarian grounds," Shipley said. "He knows the president understands the value of a free and independent press and the president agreed" to the release, reports AP.