American reporter of Japanese descent in Iran to go on hunger-strike+

TEHRAN, April 23 Kyodo - An American journalist of Japanese descent convicted in Iran of spying for the United States intends to launch a hunger-strike to protest her innocence, her family told Kyodo News on Thursday.

Roxana Saberi, 31, who was sentenced to eight years in prison by Iran's
revolutionary court, was quoted as telling her family that she was forced by
authorities to make certain statements but that she is not guilty. She
expressed her intention to start a hunger-strike from Thursday.
Her family, concerned about her health, has tried to stop her but she has not
changed her mind.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press has reported that Iran may reconsider the
eight-year jail term during her appeal, quoting comments from a judiciary
spokesman from the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
The ruling by the appeals court will be final, according to the AP.
Saberi, a dual American-Iranian citizen born to an Iranian father and a
Japanese mother, was detained in late January. She has been in Iran for six
years and worked as a reporter for the British Broadcasting Corp. and other
media.
Iran said that Saberi was involved in espionage activities, but her family said
there were no details given in explanations to them or to their lawyer about
the charge.
==Kyodo