21 Apr 2009

Iran orders 'quick and fair' appeal for US reporter

6:30 am on 21 April 2009

Iran has ordered a "quick and fair" appeal for a American journalist who has been sentenced to eight-years in prison as a US spy.

Chief judge Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi says "different aspects of this case... should be fairly, accurately and quickly considered in appeal proceedings."

Roxana Saberi, 31, was convicted by a revolutionary court in a closed-door trial on Saturday of spying for the United States.

However, on Sunday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Ms Saberi should be given the right to defend herself.

Her lawyer says he will lodge an appeal by the end of the week.

Ms Saberi, who is also of Iranian-Japanese descent, has reported for National Public Radio in the United States, Radio New Zealand, the BBC and Fox News. She has lived in Iran for the past six years.