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Curry's stepfather, Jim Cassell told local television reporters that he knows the prayers of the American people led to the positive outcome. In enthusiastic and moving interviews, Cassell said he has been touched by the unending support for the women and has felt the effect of the prayers. (Nashville's WEWS has several videos available on its site, including a wonderful interview with Cassell only moments after he heard the news).

As word spread, friends and family gathered spontaneously at churches for worship and praise. From about 5:30 p.m., the phones rang non-stop at Antioch Community Church. According to the Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, Texas, a steady stream of worshippers filled the sanctuary:

By late Wednesday, members were still arriving at the church, many of them bolting from their cars and running into the cavernous sanctuary with Bibles. They were mostly young people, dressed in jeans and T-shirts, some with infants in their arms as they sang church songs whose words were lighted up on a wall.

Amy Tarter said she felt "unbelievable excitement that they actually made it." Asked what she will do when she sees her friends, Curry and Mercer, Tarter said, "I don't know that I'll say anything to them. I'll just hug them."

Before that happens, reports the Australian AAP news service, the aid workers will undergo counseling at a retreat in Germany, where Shelter Now is based.

The West Australian newspaper was at the home of Marie and Andrew Thomas, parents of 51-year-old Australian prisoner Diana Thomas, when the phone call came. "It's so wonderful to hear your voice," Marie told her daughter. "You are coming home for good? Thanks darling, I am so happy for you, I can't believe it."

This story continues to develop. Antioch Community Church is holding a press conference as Weblog types. The Department of Defense briefing at 12:15 p.m. will likely touch on the rescue as well, but with so many developments, it's sure to only be one of many topics.

And if you can read German, here's the story from Frankfurter Rundschau, which apparently had this news at least a day before anyone else.

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November (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45