US Journo 'Very Weak' in Iranian Jail: Father

An American journalist jailed in Iran for allegedly spying for the US is vowing to remain on a hunger strike until she is freed even though she is "very weak," her father said today. Roxana Saberi has been on a hunger strike for a week, following her conviction in a one-day, closed-door trial. She was sentenced to eight years in prison. Her parents said they visited Roxana in Evin prison yesterday for her 32nd birthday.

"Roxana is very weak and pale. She has been on a hunger strike for a week now," her father said. "She is only drinking sweetened water to remain alive." He said he tried to persuade his daughter to end her hunger strike but she refused. "She vowed to remain on hunger strike until she is freed," he said. The US has called the accusations against Saberi, a dual Iranian-American citizen, baseless, and demanded her release. (More Roxana Saberi stories.)