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Reporter Saberi leaves Iran jail Reporter Saberi leaves Iran jail
(20 minutes later)
The US-Iranian journalist jailed in Iran, Roxana Saberi, has been freed from prison after having her sentence for spying reduced.The US-Iranian journalist jailed in Iran, Roxana Saberi, has been freed from prison after having her sentence for spying reduced.
Lawyers for the 31-year-old, whose imprisoning sparked a global outcry, said she left Tehran's Evin jail hours after her eight-year term was cut.Lawyers for the 31-year-old, whose imprisoning sparked a global outcry, said she left Tehran's Evin jail hours after her eight-year term was cut.
She will be able to leave the country but has been banned from working as a journalist in Iran for five years.She will be able to leave the country but has been banned from working as a journalist in Iran for five years.
Ms Saberi was convicted of spying for the US in April but denies the charge.Ms Saberi was convicted of spying for the US in April but denies the charge.
The case sparked international attention and protests calling for her to be released. US President Barack Obama was among those who appealed on her behalf. The case sparked international attention and protests calling for her to be released.
US President Barack Obama, who has taken a more conciliatory approach to Iran than his predecessor, was among those who appealed on her behalf.
Her lawyer, Abdolsama Khorramshahi, told reporters in Tehran that Ms Saberi's father, Reza Saberi, confirmed the news of her release.Her lawyer, Abdolsama Khorramshahi, told reporters in Tehran that Ms Saberi's father, Reza Saberi, confirmed the news of her release.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, outside Evin prison, says no-one has seen Ms Saberi leave the jail. However, she is thought to be heading with her father to an undisclosed location in Tehran.
The AFP news agency quoted Ms Saberi as saying: "I'm OK. I don't want to make any comments but I am OK."
She recently ended a two-week hunger strike and was said to have looked thin and tired during her court appearance on Sunday.
'Fair and open''Fair and open'
She was freed following an appeal hearing earlier on Monday which lasted five hours - far longer than the original trial. That appeal hearing lasted five hours - far longer than the original hour-long trial.
Reza Saberi: 'So practically, she is free as of now'Reza Saberi: 'So practically, she is free as of now'
Before it began Ms Saberi was allowed a half-hour meeting with Mr Khorramshahi.Before it began Ms Saberi was allowed a half-hour meeting with Mr Khorramshahi.
Some accounts of the hearing said Ms Saberi - looking a little bewildered - had visibly lost weight from the two-week hunger strike that she only recently ended. Some accounts of the hearing said Ms Saberi - looking a little bewildered - had visibly lost weight from the two-week hunger strike.
Details of the evidence against her have still not been made public, and it is not clear why the appeal hearing was brought forward.Details of the evidence against her have still not been made public, and it is not clear why the appeal hearing was brought forward.
Unlike her original trial, the legal process this time was arranged to appear fair and open, says the BBC's Jon Leyne. Unlike her original trial, the legal process this time was arranged to appear fair and open, our correspondent in Tehran says.
As well as a reduced jail sentence, the charge against Ms Saberi was changed from one of passing secret information to a lesser count of having access to classified information, he adds.