CAIRO (TheBlaze/AP) — A senior Egyptian prison official and the country's official news agency say Al-Jazeera's Australian reporter Peter Greste has been freed from prison and is on his way to Cairo airport to leave the country.
It's not, however, a complete victory for journalism.
In this Monday, March 31, 2014 file photo, Al-Jazeera English correspondent Peter Greste, appears in court along with several other defendants during their trial on terror charges, in Cairo, Egypt. A senior Egyptian prison official and the country's official news agency say Greste has been freed from prison and is on his way to Cairo airport to leave the country. (AP Photo/Heba Elkholy, El Shorouk, File)
The agency said his release on Sunday, after more than a year behind bars, followed a presidential "approval" and both said it was coordinated with the Australian Embassy in Cairo.
Peter Greste believed to be on Egypt Air Flight 741, from Cairo to Cyprus. Track it here: https://t.co/eggevPpml5 pic.twitter.com/y1amHMPCi4
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) February 1, 2015The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Al-Jazeera released a statement saying it is "pleased" with Greste's release but pledging, "We will not rest" until two other journalists are also freed.
Al Jazeera statement on release of @PeterGreste demands release of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed #FreeAJStaff: pic.twitter.com/0naJIV5VML
— Neetzan Zimmerman (@neetzan) February 1, 2015Greste, Egyptian-Canadian Mohammed Fahmy, and Egyptian Mohammed Baher were sentenced to at least seven years in prison on terrorism-related charges last year in a trial that was described as a sham by rights groups.
This story has been updated.
