Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste is in Cyprus and is "desperate" to return to his native Australia following his release after serving 400 days in an Egyptian prison, according to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
"I spoke to Peter Greste shortly after his release and before he departed Egypt," Ms Bishop told reporters in Sydney.
She added: "He was immensely relieved and he was desperate to come home to Australia and reunite with his family."
Mr Greste, who had been arrested along with two colleagues on charges that included aiding a terrorist group, flew to Larnaca from Cairo and was met by Australian consular officials.
Can't thank all the tweeters enough! Without the worldwide support we could not have got through it. @PeterGreste on his way home
— Andrew Greste (@AndyroosteG) February 1, 2015Earlier, the Al-Jazeera journalist was deported from Egypt following a presidential decision.
Mr Greste, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national Baher Mohamed were serving seven- to ten-year sentences on charges of aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and publishing false news about Egypt.
Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said he is hopeful Mr Fahmy’s case would be resolved shortly.
Mr Baird's office added the Canadian government was working closely with Egypt to secure the freedom of Mr Fahmy, who was detained along with Mr Greste and Mr Mohamed in December 2013.
Earlier this month Egypt's highest court cancelled the jail sentences of the three journalists and ordered a retrial.
There had been mounting speculation that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi could pardon or deport the men.
The journalists say they were merely reporting the news when first arrested in December 2013.
Two security officials confirmed that an order had been given for Mr Greste's release.
There was no immediate word on the fate of his colleagues.
Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy are eligible for deportation under a recent law enacted by President Sisi allowing the deportation of foreigners to stand trial or serve their sentences in their home countries.
There is no prospect that the men would face trials in their home countries and Mr Sisi's decree appears to have been formulated in a way that allows Egypt's authorities to save face.
Mr Fahmy's fiancée said she is hopeful he would be released from Cairo's Tora prison soon and deported to Canada: "His deportation is in its final stages. We are hopeful."
Campaign to free journalists will continue
Al Jazeera said its campaign to free its journalists from Egypt would not end until all three were released.
"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," the news organisation said in a statement.
"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 statement added.
