An Afghan Christian facing possible execution for converting from Islam was likely to be released from jail "soon," a senior government official said Friday following huge Western pressure over the case. "He is likely to be released soon," the official said, adding there would be a top-level meeting on the matter Saturday. Abdul Rahman was arrested two weeks ago under Islamic Sharia law and faced a possible death sentence in a case that has attracted widespread condemnation, especially from the United States. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday to step up pressure to free 41-year-old Rahman, who converted in Germany 16 years ago and was turned in by his parents on his return to Afghanistan.Rice said she phoned Karzai to hammer home "in the strongest possible terms" Washington's concern over the proceedings against Rahman. "There is no more fundamental issue for the United States than freedom of religion and religious conscience," she said.