Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste poses for a photograph in Kibati village, near Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in this August 7, 2013 file photo.
Reuters/AFP/Cairo
Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste left Egypt for his native Australia on Sunday after serving 400 days in a Cairo prison on charges that included aiding a terrorist group, security officials said.
There was no immediate word on the fate of his two Al Jazeera colleagues - Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohamed - who were also jailed in the case that provoked an international outcry.
The three were sentenced to seven to 10 years on charges including spreading lies to help a "terrorist organisation" - a reference to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Greste's release came as Egypt is reeling from one of the bloodiest attacks in years. More than 30 security forces were killed on Thursday night in Sinai, and ensuing comments from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suggested he was in no mood for compromise.
The local media has labelled the journalists "The Marriott Cell" because they worked from a hotel of the US-based chain.
Egyptian authorities accuse Al Jazeera of backing the Muslim Brotherhood, the movement which then army chief Sisi toppled in 2013.
Fiancée of Fahmy hopeful he will be freed
The fiancée of Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy said on Sunday she was hopeful he would be released from an Egyptian prison soon and deported to Canada.
"His deportation is in its final stages. We are hopeful," Marwa Omara told Reuters shortly after Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste, who was jailed with Fahmy, flew to Australia after being deported.
Al-Jazeera 'will not rest' until others freed
Al-Jazeera welcomed Egypt's decision to deport Australia's Peter Greste after a year of imprisonment but expressed hope that two more of its journalists will also be released.
"We're pleased for Peter and his family that they are to be reunited," Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al-Jazeera Media Network, said in a statement.
"We will not rest until Baher and Mohamed also regain their freedom," he added in reference to Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, jailed in Egypt along with Greste.
