Eight jailed American missionaries leave Haiti for US

by stejeb | February 17, 2010 at 10:18 pm

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Following extensive questioning, eight of the missionaries being held will return to the US, though they have been told they may have to return for further investigation later.

The group's leader, Laura Silsby, and one other member, Charisa Coulter, are still being detained and will face further questions. The two were already in Haiti before the earthquake struck.

Eight of the 10 US missionaries accused of kidnapping children in Haiti after January's quake have been released from custody and have left the country.

They were flown out of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in a US military plane. They may have to return to Haiti at a later date for further questioning.

Their two leaders remain in detention. The Americans were arrested after trying to leave Haiti with 33 children.

They said the children were orphans but some were found to have living parents.

Earlier on Wednesday, Haitian President Rene Preval greeted French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who arrived to assess the aid efforts.