Afghan judge says case against Christian flawed

KABUL, Mar 26 (Reuters) The Afghan judge presiding over the case of a man who could face the death penalty for converting to Christianity today said the case against him had flaws and had been referred back to prosecutors.

''The case, because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings, has been referred back to the prosecutor's office,'' the judge, Ansarullah Mawlavizada, told Reuters.

The row over the man, Abdur Rahman, 40, jailed this month for abandoning Islam, threatens to create a rift between Afghanistan and the United States and other Western backers.

REUTERS DKS BS1823