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Clinton 'Deeply Concerned' About American Journalist Roxana Saberi
It doesn't look like American journalist Roxana Saberi will be heading home any time soon. The Iranians are officially charging Saberi with espionage and she remains detained in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Saberi was arrested at the end of January after buying a bottle of wine, and Iran says she was illegally gathering information on expired press credentials. "This accused has been coming and going to certain government circles under the cover of reporter and without a permit," said Sohrab Heydarifard, the judge in the case. "She has perpetrated actions to compile and gather information and documents and transferred them to American intelligence services." Tehran's prosecutor claims Saberi, 31, accepted all the charges against her, but other reports say she hasn't even seen them. The exact charges should be announced Saturday, and she could go on trial in Iran's Revolutionary Court as early as next week. All this worries not only Saberi's family, who say they're staying in Iran until she's free, but also Hillary Clinton. The secretary of state -- who also this week said it "makes sense" to start negotiations with Iran on its nuclear capabilities -- called on Tehran once again to release the freelancer. The Swiss government has been working to get information on Saberi's case to the U.S. "We are deeply concerned by the news that we are hearing," Clinton said after a diplomatic meeting in Washington. "I will, as will the rest of the (State) Department, continue to follow this very closely and we wish for her speedy release and return to her family."
Posted by: Steve White 2009-04-19 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=267929 |