Obama relieved at release of US reporter in Iran

President Barack Obama is "relieved" by Iran's "humanitarian" gesture in releasing US-born reporter Roxana Saberi but rejected her conviction for spying, his spokesman said Monday.

President Barack Obama is "relieved" by Iran's "humanitarian" gesture in releasing US-born reporter Roxana Saberi but rejected her conviction for spying, his spokesman said Monday.

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"He was relieved to see that Roxana Saberi has been released," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

"We know this has been a trying time for her family and friends. He looks forward to welcoming her home to the United States.

"We want to continue to stress that she was wrongly accused, but we welcome this humanitarian gesture."

A Tehran appeals court reduced Saberi's prison term for espionage to a two-year suspended sentence, ending a four-month ordeal for the US-Iranian journalist.

The release removes one cloud over Obama's attempts to end three decades of diplomatic estrangement between the United States and Iran.