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Iran leader urges reporter rights Iran leader urges reporter rights
(about 17 hours later)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said an Iranian-American journalist jailed for spying must have her legal right to defend herself. Iran's president says Iranian-US journalist Roxana Saberi must have the legal right to defend herself in an appeal against her spying conviction.
The request came in a letter from his office to Tehran's prosecutor, state media reported, a day after Roxana Saberi was jailed for eight years. The request came in a letter from his office to Tehran's prosecutor, state media reported, a day after Ms Saberi was jailed for eight years.
Our Tehran correspondent says it is an unusual intervention by Mr Ahmadinejad.Our Tehran correspondent says it is an unusual intervention by Mr Ahmadinejad.
US President Barack Obama has expressed concern at the 31-year-old's sentencing after a secret one-day trial in Tehran.US President Barack Obama has expressed concern at the 31-year-old's sentencing after a secret one-day trial in Tehran.
Mr Obama urged Tehran to free Ms Saberi, saying he was "deeply concerned" for her safety, and adding that the US would contact Iran about the case through Swiss intermediaries.Mr Obama urged Tehran to free Ms Saberi, saying he was "deeply concerned" for her safety, and adding that the US would contact Iran about the case through Swiss intermediaries.
"I have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage," he told reporters in Trinidad where he attended a regional summit."I have complete confidence that she was not engaging in any sort of espionage," he told reporters in Trinidad where he attended a regional summit.
Roxana Saberi, who was arrested in January and went on trial this week, denies the charge and plans to go on hunger strike, her father Reza has said.Roxana Saberi, who was arrested in January and went on trial this week, denies the charge and plans to go on hunger strike, her father Reza has said.
Her lawyer has said he will lodge an appeal.Her lawyer has said he will lodge an appeal.
Ms Saberi's mother Akiko expressed concern for her daughter's health, saying she was "very, very frail."Ms Saberi's mother Akiko expressed concern for her daughter's health, saying she was "very, very frail."
She said it was hard to believe how a country could treat a human being like this.She said it was hard to believe how a country could treat a human being like this.
President's letterPresident's letter
Mr Ahmadinejad said the rights of Ms Saberi and jailed Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan, who has been behind bars since November, must not be violated in any way.Mr Ahmadinejad said the rights of Ms Saberi and jailed Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein Derakhshan, who has been behind bars since November, must not be violated in any way.
Barack Obama says Roxana Saberi should be releasedBarack Obama says Roxana Saberi should be released
"Please take the necessary measures to ensure that the process of examining the charges against the aforementioned individuals are being carried out carefully and fairness, justice and regulations are observed," he wrote in the letter to prosecutors."Please take the necessary measures to ensure that the process of examining the charges against the aforementioned individuals are being carried out carefully and fairness, justice and regulations are observed," he wrote in the letter to prosecutors.
"Please, personally observe the process to ensure that the defendants are allowed all legal rights and freedom in defending themselves and that their rights are not violated even by one iota," reported Iranian official government news agency Irna."Please, personally observe the process to ensure that the defendants are allowed all legal rights and freedom in defending themselves and that their rights are not violated even by one iota," reported Iranian official government news agency Irna.
The verdict came despite calls by the Obama administration for Ms Saberi's release and diplomatic overtures to Iran after three decades of severed ties.The verdict came despite calls by the Obama administration for Ms Saberi's release and diplomatic overtures to Iran after three decades of severed ties.
Hardliners hijack?Hardliners hijack?
It raises suspicions over whether the case has been hijacked by hardliners within the Iranian government, eager to sabotage any reconciliation, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports from Tehran.It raises suspicions over whether the case has been hijacked by hardliners within the Iranian government, eager to sabotage any reconciliation, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports from Tehran.
Case tests Obama's Iran agenda Profile: Roxana Saberi Case tests Obama's Iran agenda Profile: Roxana Saberi
He says it is not clear if the Iranian president is suggesting due legal process has not been followed, or if he is generally emphasising the importance of fairness in such sensitive cases.He says it is not clear if the Iranian president is suggesting due legal process has not been followed, or if he is generally emphasising the importance of fairness in such sensitive cases.
Senators from Ms Saberi's home state of North Dakota described the court ruling as a shocking miscarriage of justice that would damage Iran's international credibility.Senators from Ms Saberi's home state of North Dakota described the court ruling as a shocking miscarriage of justice that would damage Iran's international credibility.
She has reported for a number of foreign news organisations including the BBC, NPR and Fox News.She has reported for a number of foreign news organisations including the BBC, NPR and Fox News.
The journalist originally faced the less serious accusation of buying alcohol, and later of working as a journalist without a valid press card.The journalist originally faced the less serious accusation of buying alcohol, and later of working as a journalist without a valid press card.
Then, in a period of less than two weeks, the charge of spying was introduced, and she was tried by the Revolutionary Court and sentenced.Then, in a period of less than two weeks, the charge of spying was introduced, and she was tried by the Revolutionary Court and sentenced.
A US-Iranian national, Ms Saberi has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book.A US-Iranian national, Ms Saberi has spent six years in Iran studying and writing a book.