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Missing teen's mom apologizes for comments

Statements 'fueled by despair'

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Beth Holloway Twitty with daughter Natalee Holloway on her high school graduation day in May.

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ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN) -- The mother of Natalee Holloway apologized Friday for saying two released suspects were involved in her daughter's disappearance.

"The statements I made on July 5th were fueled by despair and frustration because of still not knowing where my daughter is," Beth Holloway Twitty said in a statement to the media. "I think everyone, everyone can sympathize with that."

Twitty's comments come two days after a lawyer threatened legal action over what she said about the two brothers released from an Aruban jail in the case of missing 18-year-old Natalee Holloway.

After Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and his brother, Satish, 18, left jail, Twitty said she was convinced they "were involved in a violent crime against my daughter," and questioned how they could be allowed "to walk freely among the tourists and citizens of Aruba." (Full story)

Holloway, who was on a post-graduation celebration trip in Aruba with more than 100 classmates from her Alabama high school, has been missing since May 30.

Satish's lawyer threatened legal action, accusing Twitty of making "prejudicial, inflammatory, libelous and totally outrageous" statements. (Full story)

Holloway family attorney Vinda de Sousa said Twitty's apology was not in response to the threat, adding that the Kalpoes' lawyers never contacted her or Holloway's family about a possible lawsuit.

"We have not received any official letter by any of their attorneys demanding any apology or any rectification," de Sousa said.

Friday Twitty said, "I would like to apologize to the Aruban people and to the Aruban authorities if I or my family offended you in any way. I realize that the Aruban legal system abides by the presumption of innocence and I want to reassure everyone that I do respect the Aruban legal system."

A judge allowed the brothers to leave jail after nearly a month in custody in connection with Holloway's disappearance. The judge ordered Joran Van Der Sloot, the 17-year-old son of an Aruban judge, held for another 60 days while police continue investigating.

Holloway was last seen leaving a nightclub with the Kalpoe brothers and Van Der Sloot.

Appeals filed

Twitty denies rumors she demanded the Aruban government pay $200,000 to EquuSearch, a volunteer group from Texas helping to search for her daughter.

She said she asked the Dutch ambassador to Aruba for advice on how to obtain financial assistance for the volunteer group, but never mentioned a specific amount or demanded money.

"I was never asked by EquuSearch to do this," she said. "I was just looking for a tool that could help find Natalee."

A judge in Aruba plans to hear an appeal Tuesday from prosecutors who contend the Kalpoes should not have been released.

The Kalpoes told police they dropped Holloway and Van Der Sloot off at a beach north of the Marriott Hotel after they left the nightclub. Neither they nor Van Der Sloot have been charged with a crime, and their lawyers have said they were not involved in the teen's disappearance.

Van Der Sloot's mother, Anita, said her son told her he was on the beach with Holloway but left her there because she wanted to stay.

An attorney for the Van Der Sloot family said Wednesday that the teen is appealing his continued detention. No date has been announced for the hearing that includes a three-judge panel.

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