TORONTO - Conrad Black says he's not asking for a presidential pardon as he fights U.S. convictions for fraud and obstruction of justice and remains optimistic that "one way or another, justice will prevail."

There's long been speculation that Black, who is serving a 6 1/2-year sentence in a Florida prison after being convicted last year of three counts of fraud and one obstruction charge, would seek a pardon if the appeal process fails.

The rumours have been partly stoked by Black's political connections while at the helm of Hollinger International, a global newspaper company with publications in the United States, Canada, Britain and Israel.

It was also fuelled when U.S. President George W. Bush commuted the sentence of former White House aid Lewis (Scooter) Libby for perjury and obstruction to eliminate jail time - a conviction that had been secured by Patrick Fitzgerald, the Chicago U.S. Attorney who brought the case against Black.

But in an e-mail to The Canadian Press a week after a Chicago court heard his appeal, Black said he was "pursuing justice through the normal channels."

"I don't know anything about a presidential pardon, and have had nothing to do with any such initiative," Black said in an e-mail from the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, sent through his longtime assistant.

Despite earlier comments to a national newspaper stating the American judges hearing the appeal didn't understand the case and expressing little optimism about his chances, Black declined to discuss last Thursday's hearing, saying he "won't predict the appeal outcome."

"I am optimistic that one way or another, justice will prevail."

He also said he hasn't encountered any "difficulties" with anyone at Coleman - "neither the personnel nor the other residents."

Black's lawyers took their appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal in Chicago last week along with lawyers for his three co-defendants: John (Jack) Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis.

They argued that prosecutors failed to prove Black tried to hide key documents, and they also disputed the fairness of instructions to the jury.

All four men were found not guilty on a majority of the fraud charges against them but convicted on some charges. Black was the only one charged with obstruction for removing boxes out of his Toronto office, contrary to an Ontario court order.

The charges were in connection with millions of dollars prosecutors said were illegally pocketed from Hollinger International, which has since been renamed Sun-Times Media.

Hugh Totten, a Chicago lawyer who followed the case, said he sees little that will change the outcome of the trial.

"The appeal didn't go well; it was a very hostile reception by the judges," Totten said.

And even if Black were to seek a pardon, he added, his application would be one of hundreds to be vetted at the Oval office.

"This case may have received a lot of press in Canada, but it was a virtual non-event by the time it got to Washington, D.C.," Totten said.

"I doubt that this is anywhere close on President Bush's radar screen."

Black, 63, was head of the world's third-largest newspaper empire in terms of circulation until he was ousted in 2003 following an internal investigation initiated by Black in response to shareholder complaints.

A decision on the appeal is expected in four to six weeks, but has no set deadline.

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