This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34337595

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy Egypt pardons Al Jazeera journalists Fahmy and Mohamed
(35 minutes later)
Egypt's president has pardoned one of the three Al Jazeera TV journalists convicted of broadcasting false news. Egypt's president has pardoned two of the three Al Jazeera TV journalists convicted of broadcasting false news.
Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian citizen, is included on a list of 100 prisoners given pardons by Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. A presidential spokesman told AFP news agency that Mohammed Fahmy, a Canadian, and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, were on a list of 100 prisoners to be released.
But Mr Fahmy's Egyptian colleague, Baher Mohamed, is not named on the list, nor is the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February. Mohamed did not appear to be on the list when it was first published on Wednesday, nor did the Australian Peter Greste, who was deported in February.
They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial on charges critics said were unfounded. They were sentenced to three years in prison last month after a retrial.
Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.Prosecutors accused them of collaborating with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013.
The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. The journalists denied the allegation and said they were simply reporting the news. Legal experts said the charges were unfounded and politically motivated.
Pardoned alongside Fahmy and Mohamed were the prominent activists Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, who were sentenced to two years in prison for breaking an anti-protest law that gives the Egyptian authorities broad powers to ban or disperse most public demonstrations.
No reason was given for President Sisi's decision, but it comes ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha and a day before he travels to New York to address the UN General Assembly.
Mr Sisi had also said he would be willing to pardon the Al Jazeera journalists once the judicial process had ended.
Fahmy, who renounced his Egyptian citizenship to qualify for deportation in February, is expected to leave for Canada once he is released.