Reuters/Cairo

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said after “constructive” talks in Cairo yesterday, he hoped that a Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera television could be released before long from an Egyptian prison.
Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste were sentenced last June to between seven and 10 years for spreading lies to help a “terrorist organisation”, a reference to Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in November the issue of a presidential pardon was under discussion. Egypt’s High Court ordered a retrial of the men on Jan. 1.
Baird sounded cautiously optimistic after talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri.
“I would characterise the meeting as constructive and worthwhile, and we look forward to resolving that issue. It’s still not resolved today, but that’s why I came,” he told a news conference.
“This is a complex case ... The minister understands how important this is to me, to all Canadians. I thought today’s meeting was a very constructive step on the road to a successful resolution.”
Rights groups and Western governments have criticised the detentions. Al Jazeera says the trial was flawed and has demanded their release.
Baird seemed hopeful that Fahmy could be released soon. “We’re working toward a constructive resolution on that sooner rather than later,” he said.
Fahmy’s fiancee, Marwa Omara, said he had signed documents required for his deportation to Canada and that she was told the process was in its final stages.
“I had high expectations that Mohamed might be released during Mr Baird’s visit, but I understand it’s a big case and it’s going to take some time,” she said after a 15-minute meeting with Baird.