Iran 'set to free US journalist'

Saberi has reported from Iran for US and Britishnews organisations [AFP]

Iran is expected to release an American-born journalist jailed for spying for the United State after a court reduced her sentence.

Roxana Saberi was sentenced to eight years in prison last month, but Monday's ruling saw that cut to a two-year suspended sentence.
"The verdict of the previous court has been quashed," Saleh Nikbakht, her defence lawyer, said.
"Her punishment has been changed to a suspended two-year sentence and she will be out of prison in one-and-half hours."
Saberi's father, Reza, told the Reuters news agency that he and his wife were on their way to Tehran's Evin jail, where their daughter has been held since late January, "to bring our daughter back home".AppealThe ruling came after a court in the capital, Tehran, heard Saberi's appeal behind closed doors.

Saberi was initially detained in January reportedly for buying alcohol, but was later charged with espionage.

"The article of law that was referred to in her conviction was article 501 that says any co-operation with hostile governments and hostile countries deserved one to 10 years in prison," Al Jazeera's Alireza Ronaghi, reporting fom Tehran, said.
"That article of law has been disputed by lawyers who say Iran is not at war with anyone at the moment and the phrase of 'hostile government' should be interpreted more seriously." Saberi has reported for US National Public Radio, the BBC and Fox News, and has lived in Iran for the past six years.

Tehran says that she has been working in the country illegally after her press card was revoked in 2006.
The original sentence was handed down just weeks after Barack Obama, the US president, said that his administration would work towards better relations with Tehran after three decades of with no official ties.
Al Jazeera's Ronaghi said: "They [Iran] don't want to jeopardise all the possibilities and potential of future changes in Iran-US relations with one court order."
Washington has repeatedly denied that Saberi was involved in spying for the US.
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Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies