BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Federal prosecutors are urging that former vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby serve up to three years for lying about his conversations with reporters about CIA operative Valerie Plame, but White House and State Department officials and military commanders are supporting Libby plea to spare him from doing prison time.

    Libby's lawyers said Thursday that for Libby to go to prison would be unfair. Citing numerous letters from former colleagues and friends, they said Libby deserved only probation.

    Libby was convicted in March of perjury and obstruction, becoming the highest-ranking White House official convicted since the Iran-Contra affair two decades ago. Sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday.

    Probation officers recommend a sentencing range of 15-21 months but left open the possibility that defense attorneys could argue for less. Libby's attorneys say his distinguished career should persuade Walton to spare him prison.

    His attorneys also said a "distorted" picture of Libby has emerged from the case, and the letters received by the court praising him present a more accurate picture of their client.

    They said Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was trying to use the perjury case to sentence Libby for the leak. That's the case Fitzgerald "could have sought to try ¡ª but chose not to," and it would be wrong to sentence Libby as if he were convicted of leaking Plame's identity, defense attorneys said.

    Fitzgerald said last week that Libby showed no remorse for corrupting the judicial system.

    Walton, who has a reputation as a strict judge who hands down tough sentences, has broad discretion over Libby's fate. If he sends Libby to prison, he also must decide whether to put that sentence on hold until the appeals run out.

    (Agencies)