Al Jazeera Welcomes Journalist's Release From Egypt Jail

The Qatari-owned Al Jazeera Network on Sunday welcomed the release of Austrian journalist Peter Greste from an Egyptian prison, describing the move as "good news."



The network also called for releasing two other journalists imprisoned in Egypt for involvement in the same case.



"Peter Greste is on his way out of the country after 400 days in detention, but Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy remain behind bars," Al Jazeera said in a press release.



"All three have to be exonerated, and the convictions against other journalists tried in absentia also have to be lifted," it added.



Greste, a journalist of the Qatari news network, was put in jail in Egypt for over a year on charges of broadcasting fabricated news. Two other colleagues were put in jail with him.



He was released on Sunday after being pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.



Egyptian laws give the president the right to grant amnesty for individuals after the issuance of court verdicts.



In June, Greste and the two other journalists – Egyptian-Canadian Mohamed Fahmi and Egyptian Baher Mohamed – were all given jail terms ranging between seven and ten years each after being convicted of abetting terrorists and spreading false news.



They have all been held by Egyptian authorities since being arrested in December of 2013 at a hotel in Egyptian capital Cairo.



A number of western governments called for the release of the journalists amid an international solidarity campaign launched by Al Jazeera.



Al-Sisi has recently issued a decree allowing foreigners facing prosecution in Egypt to be extradited.



In its press release on Sunday, Al Jazeera said it was pleased for Greste and his family.



"They are to be reunited," the network said. "It has been an incredible and unjustifiable ordeal for them, and they have coped with incredible dignity," network acting director Mostefa Souag said.



Souag said he and his colleagues would not rest until the two other journalists were freed.



"Egyptian authorities have it in their power to finish this properly today, and that is exactly what they must do," he added.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kahire