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-31083890
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Peter Greste: Al-Jazeera journalist freed by Egypt | Peter Greste: Al-Jazeera journalist freed by Egypt |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste has been freed and deported from Egypt and flown to Cyprus, bringing an end to 400 days behind bars. | |
The Australian ex-BBC correspondent was arrested in December 2013 and tried on charges that included spreading false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. | |
Two other al-Jazeera men, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, remain in detention. | |
Reports said Mr Fahmy would be deported to Canada, but concern remains about Mr Mohamed, who holds no dual nationality. | |
Mr Fahmy, who holds dual Egyptian and Canadian citizenship, may be freed after having his Egyptian nationality revoked, presidential sources said. | |
All the defendants denied the charges against them and said their trial was a sham. | All the defendants denied the charges against them and said their trial was a sham. |
They were accused of collaborating with the banned Muslim Brotherhood after the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the military in 2013. | |
In their defence, the three men said they were simply reporting the news. | |
Mr Greste's brother Andrew said in a statement: "We're ecstatic that Peter has been released and we now ask if the world could respect his privacy, to give him time to appreciate his freedom before he faces the media." | Mr Greste's brother Andrew said in a statement: "We're ecstatic that Peter has been released and we now ask if the world could respect his privacy, to give him time to appreciate his freedom before he faces the media." |
Al-Jazeera tweeted that it welcomed Peter Greste's release and demanded Mr Fahmy and Mr Mohamed be freed. | |
Mostefa Souag, acting director-general of al-Jazeera media network, said in a statement: "We're pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity... | Mostefa Souag, acting director-general of al-Jazeera media network, said in a statement: "We're pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited. It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity... |
"We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom. | "We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom. |
"The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do." | "The Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do." |
'Relieved and delighted' | |
Mr Greste's release came after a long campaign and a series of hints from Egyptian officials. | |
In November, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said he was considering the possibility of granting pardons to the two foreign al-Jazeera journalists. He had earlier signed a decree on repatriating foreign prisoners. | |
Then in January, Egypt's top court ordered a retrial of all three men. | Then in January, Egypt's top court ordered a retrial of all three men. |
Mr Greste's release was eventually confirmed by a statement issued by the Egyptian Interior Ministry. | |
The statement said it had been "decided to extradite Australian journalist Peter Greste... to his country today, 1 February (2015)... after the cabinet's approval, in enforcement of the Presidential Decree no. 140 for the year 2014 regarding the rulings on extraditing defendants and deporting the convicts". | |
An official told Associated Press the release had been co-ordinated with the Australian embassy in Cairo. | An official told Associated Press the release had been co-ordinated with the Australian embassy in Cairo. |
Mr Greste left Cairo for Larnaca, Cyprus at about 16:00 local time on Sunday. His brother Mike and airport officials later confirmed that he landed at Larnaca airport. | |
He is now expected to travel to his native Australia, where his parents Lois and Juris, and brother Andrew, are due to speak at 10:00 on Monday (00:00 GMT). | |
Timeline: Journalists' detention | Timeline: Journalists' detention |
29 December 2013: Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy arrested in police raid on Cairo's Marriott Hotel. Baher Mohamed later arrested at home | |
How journalists were jailed in Egypt | How journalists were jailed in Egypt |
Who are the jailed journalists? | Who are the jailed journalists? |
Colleagues' joy | |
There has been a huge international campaign to try to secure the release of the reporters. | There has been a huge international campaign to try to secure the release of the reporters. |
Al-Jazeera's managing director Al Anstey said: "I can't tell you how relieved we are that Peter has left Egypt and is on his way to be reunited with his family." | |
Sue Turton, an al-Jazeera journalist charged in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Egypt's court, told the BBC all her colleagues "were delighted" that he was released. | |
She said one of her colleagues managed to talk to Mr Greste on the phone as he waited at a departure lounge at Cairo's airport. She said "he was joking, and obviously he's elated. But his second sentence straight after that elation was - we've still got to get the other two out". | |
Mr Fahmy holds Egyptian and Canadian citizenship and was al-Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief. | Mr Fahmy holds Egyptian and Canadian citizenship and was al-Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief. |
His fiancee, Marwa Omara, quoted by Reuters, said she was "hopeful" he would also soon be released and deported to Canada. | His fiancee, Marwa Omara, quoted by Reuters, said she was "hopeful" he would also soon be released and deported to Canada. |
Mr Mohamed, a producer, is an Egyptian national and therefore not subject to deportation. His fate is not clear. | Mr Mohamed, a producer, is an Egyptian national and therefore not subject to deportation. His fate is not clear. |
In their original trial, Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy were sentenced to seven years and Mr Mohamed to 10. | In their original trial, Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy were sentenced to seven years and Mr Mohamed to 10. |
The case has caused tension between Egypt and Qatar - where al-Jazeera is based - although ties between the nations have improved recently. | The case has caused tension between Egypt and Qatar - where al-Jazeera is based - although ties between the nations have improved recently. |