Iranian court hears Saberi appeal

TEHRAN, May 10 (UPI) -- The appeals process began Sunday for a U.S. journalist jailed in Iran on charges of being a spy, her father told CNN.

The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, said the three-judge appeals panel promised a quick and fair appeal for Roxana Saberi, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in April for espionage.

The three judges vowed a "meticulous process," Alireza Jamshidi, an Iranian judiciary spokesman, was quoted as saying by IRNA.

The appeals court could take more than a day to issue its verdict, Jamshidi said as he condemned U.S. officials for their criticism of Iran's handling of Saberi's case.

"As the Europeans confess, the Americans have the worst human-rights record," Jamshidi said.

Saberi Monday ended a two-week hunger strike after her parents pleaded with her to start eating. She was initially detained in January for buying a bottle of wine and allegedly working as a journalist without proper credentials.

Saberi has lived in Iran since 2003 and reported for National Public Radio, the BBC and ABC News.