Maid wins reprieve from death by stoning in Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities have agreed to retry a Sri Lankan housemaid sentenced to death by stoning for adultery, her country's deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Harsha de Silva told parliament the government had secured a fresh trial for the woman after Sri Lankan diplomats visited her in a Saudi jail over the weekend. "Through our intervention, they (Saudi authorities) have agreed to reopen the case," de Silva said.

"This can be considered a big victory. We will provide her with legal counsel," he added, without elaborating on the grounds for a retrial.