French embassy employee freed in Iran

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-11 23:52

PARIS:President Nicolas Sarkozy's office says a French Embassy employee on trial in Iran has been freed from prison.

A statement says Sarkozy has spoken with Nazak Afshar since her release.

The statement Tuesday said Sarkozy now wants the speedy release of another French person on trial, 24-year-old academic Clotilde Reiss.

Sarkozy also wants the charges against Afshar, a French-Iranian citizen, to be dropped.

Sarkozy thanked the European Union as well as friends _ including Syria _ "who provided their support in this first phase."

Reiss was arrested July 1. Afshar's arrest became known to France only when she appeared in court last week.