U.S. Condemns Syria for Blogger's 'Spy' Trial

WASHINGTON  -- The U.S. is condemning Syria for the secret trial of a young female blogger on "spurious" spy charges and is appealing for her immediate release.

Tal al-Mallohi was taken into custody in December 2009. Her blog, known for poetry and social commentary, focused mostly on the suffering of Palestinians. It was not clear whether al-Mallohi's arrest was connected to the blog.

A Syrian official claimed in November that her spying had led to an attack against a Syrian army officer by agents from a foreign country. The official didn't name the country she was allegedly spying for.

But State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says allegations of American connections that have led to her imprisonment are "baseless."