Aruban PM Takes To Air Waves
PM Nelson Oduber Vows Total Cooperation With U.S. Authorities
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Play CBS Video Video Cops: Suspect Knew Natalee Police in Aruba say one of three suspects arrested in the Natalee Holloway case is a 17-year-old who met her two days before she vanished. Drew Levinson reports.
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Video Defending Aruba Suspect Aruban attorney Chris Lejuez tells The Early Show how he will defend one of the men suspected of a connection to the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway.
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Video Missing Teen's Stepdad Talks The stepfather of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway told The Early Show about the ongoing search and emotional toll on the family.
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Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber hugs Beth Twitty, mother of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, at a press conference at her hotel in Palm Beach, Aruba, Thursday, June, 9, 2005. (AP)
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Undated family phot of Natalee Holloway. (AP)
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Dutch suspect Joran Andreas Petrus Van Der Sloot is seen with a towel over his head as he is taken away in a police car in front of his home. (AP)
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Interactive Paradise Lost Star student Natalee Holloway disappears during a senior trip to Aruba.
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Fast Facts Aruba Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Interactive Out Of Sight: Missing Kids Get the facts on kidnappings, learn predator profiles and check out resources for locating missing children.
Prime Minister Nelson Oduber said his government was working closely with U.S. authorities to solve the case of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway, who dropped from sight more than a week ago.
"Nobody is above the law," Oduber said. "We are confident ... that we will solve this case."
Those detained Thursday were two brothers from Suriname and a 17-year-old Dutch student.
The 17-year-old met Holloway at a casino in her hotel, the Holiday Inn, two nights before she disappeared on May 30, Aruban Police Cmdr. Jahn van der Straaten told a news conference.
In Mountain Brook, Ala., Holloway's hometown, teens who went to Aruba with her were quoted as saying the Dutch teenager was at several places the group visited, including the restaurant-bar where the honors student was last seen.
Marcia Twitty, Holloway's aunt, said the Alabama students recognized the Dutch teenager from photos shown them by FBI agents. "They had seen him around during the trip. He was just a local guy in the bar and the casino where all the kids were just kind of hanging out," she said.
Attorney General Caren Janssen said the three men were arrested about 6 a.m. but refused to name them or say on what grounds they were being held. Authorities previously described them as students
two Surinamese brothers and the son of a Dutch justice official studying to be a judge.
"The three people have been arrested as suspects," chief government spokesman Ruben Trapenberg told The Associated Press.
Police also impounded a gray Honda; Holloway's friends reported last seeing her leave in a silver car.
Police identified the Surinamese brothers only as Satish and Deepak K. The Dutch detainee, a student at Aruba International School, left his home in the middle-class Montana neighborhood of Oranjestad on Thursday with his head covered in a blue-and-green striped towel.
Attorney general spokeswoman Vivian Van Der Biezan told a news conference the detainees were ages 17, 18 and 21.
The three had been detained last week but were released after questioning. Authorities had described them as witnesses "or persons of interest."
Under the Dutch judicial system, which Aruba follows as a protectorate of the Netherlands, people can be arrested on suspicion of a crime but held for up to 116 days without being formally charged. Authorities did not say what charges the three may face and the men will not be identified until they are charged.
©MMV CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
