UPDATED Friday, October 10, 2008 --- 7:30 p.m.

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon say they were "kidnapped" by their taxi driver and taken into Syria. They say they were held in custody for a week before being released.

The two — Taylor Luck, of Oak Park, (Illinois) and Holli Chmela — spoke to their newspaper, the Jordan Times upon returning to Jordan early today.

They were released yesterday in Damascus, where authorities said they had crossed the border illegally with the help of smugglers.

Luck says the two had hired a taxi driver to take them from Lebanon to Syria.

But instead of driving to an official border crossing where they expected to get an entry visa for Syria, the driver went off the main road, then "locked the doors" and demanded their money.

The 23-year-old Luck graduated last year from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Thursday, October 9, 2008 --- 3 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department says two American journalists who were detained in Syria have been released.

The journalists went missing during a vacation in Lebanon were arrested today in Syria after they crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border.

The Syrian foreign ministry says Holli Chmela and Taylor Luck were detained after they crossed into the country with the help of smugglers.

Chmela and Luck had been working for the Jordan Times.

Luck is a 23-year-old from Oak Park (Illinois). He graduated last year from Beloit College in Wisconsin. School officials say he was an international relations major who also studied Arabic and spent a semester in Jordan.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Thursday, October 9, 2008 --- 8:50 a.m.

Statement from the Interim President of Beloit College Dick Niemiec regarding Taylor Luck of the class of 2007

“Along with his family, the entire Beloit College community is relieved at the reports that alumnus Taylor Luck and his traveling companion have been found. We are awaiting confirmation from the Embassy that they are safe but initial indications suggest they are fine. We look forward to reuniting Taylor with the Beloit College campus community in the future and to sharing in his experiences in the Middle East . It will provide an extraordinary learning opportunity for all our students.”

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UPDATED Thursday, October 9, 2008 --- 8:30 a.m.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Syria says it is holding two missing American journalists for illegally crossing the border from Lebanon.

A Foreign Ministry statement says Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were arrested Thursday after they crossed into the country with the help of smugglers.

It says the two will be handed over to the U.S. Embassy following a completion of "necessary measures."

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut announced Wednesday the two went missing during a vacation in Lebanon and have not been heard from since Oct. 1, when they headed to northern Lebanon en route to Syria.

An official with the U.S. Embassy in Damascus confirmed two Americans are being held by Syrian authorities and added that the embassy was trying to confirm their identities.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 --- 8:25 p.m.

It was a somber day at Beloit college as students, faculty and staff learned of the disappearance of one their most popular alums.

People who knew Luck the best say he was responsible, reliable and a friend to everyone.

As the day came to an end at Beloit College the talk around campus was what happened to Taylor Luck?

Bill Flanagan, Beloit College's Dean of Students says, " We're very, very concerned."

There are only about 1,300 students at the small liberal arts college.

Blaize D'angio a student at Beloit College says, " We talk a lot to each other here."

So when one of the school's most popular alum's vanishes the word spreads quickly.

Emily Neigel is also a student at Beloit College and she says, " It's just a really close connection. It's someone who knew my sister who knew a lot of people that I know."

Neigel never met Luck, who was working as a Journalist for the Jordan Times at the time of his disappearance, but she hopes he returns home so she can meet him.

Those who did know the international relations major hope the same.

Flanagan says, " My hope is that's what's happened. That he's delayed somewhere. That it's an adventure and he's just been out of touch with some people and that he's going to be okay."

Flanagan worked with Luck for two years.

He describes the former resident assistant as being very involved with the campus and a wonderful person.

Flanagan says, " Very smart, he was adventurous, very compassionate toward others, really concerned about issues in the world."

Even those who didn't know Luck want the 2007 graduate to come home safely.

"I think it's sad that he's gone missing and I hope that he's found," D'angio said. "I hope that he just isn't answering his phone or maybe he's just busy reporting."

Flanagan also describes Luck as being one of Beloit College's best and brightest.