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Iran: Jailed US-Iranian Journalist Not on Hunger Strike


Iranian officials have denied reports an Iranian-American journalist jailed in Tehran is on a hunger strike, and they say she is in good health.

Iranian news agencies Tuesday quoted judiciary spokesman Alireza Jamshidi and deputy prosecutor Hassan Haddad as making those remarks Tuesday about journalist Roxana Saberi.

Haddad says the hunger strike issue has been raised by people seeking propaganda.

On Monday, Saberi's father said his daughter is "very weak" as she continues a hunger strike. He said he tried to get her to stop the strike, but that she vowed to continue until she is freed.

Saberi's father says she stopped eating a week ago to protest her eight-year sentence in Iran on charges of spying.

The semi-official ISNA news agency says prosecutor Haddad noted that Saberi's lawyer has appealed the sentence, and says it will be adjusted if possible.

Saberi holds U.S. and Iranian citizenship. The U.S. State Department has called the case against her "baseless" and Washington has called for her release.

Saberi, a freelance journalist, was sentenced to eight years in prison on April 18. Iran's Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, has agreed to help defend her.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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