Family of freed Australian journalist express gratitude

The family members of jailed Australian journalist Peter Greste have spoken of their relief on Monday after he was released from an Egyptian prison and was flying back home.

Greste was sentenced to seven years in jail along with a fellow Al-Jazeera reporter, Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, for allegedly aiding the black-listed Muslim Brotherhood group. Their Egyptian colleague Baher Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years and there was no immediate indication of whether Fahmy and Mohamed would also be released.

The Greste family entered the press conference in Brisbane and was given a standing ovation by waiting media.

His brother Andrew said Peter was in Cyprus with brother Mike at the moment and was "safe, healthy and happy".

Andrew said Peter thanked the Australian government and others involved, including the local ambassador and Australian lawyers.

But Andrew Greste said his brother would not rest until his Al Jazeera colleagues were free.

"They deserve to be free," Andrew said. "Peter won't rest until they are released from prison and we hope that happens in the near future."

Greste's parents Lois and Juris said they had spoken to their son twice since his release and were excited about his return.

"He was in a state of finding it difficult to believe," Lois said. "He's still absorbing it all."

"It's so difficult to realize this day is here."

The family said their son had enjoyed a meal of pork and beer with brother Mike and were still stunned at his release.

"It has come at very short notice and out of the blue," Andrew said.

The family estimated there had only been barely a month that a family member had not been in Egypt to be with Peter.

Brother Andrew Greste said he did not believe Peter would have to return to Egypt.

"He's essentially a free man," he said.

The jailed Al-Jazeera journalist was freed from an Egyptian prison overnight after 400 days in captivity.

The relief expressed from Greste's family followed comments Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who had spoke to Greste shortly after he was released on Monday. "He was immensely relieved and he was desperate to come home to Australia and reunite with his family, his parents Lois and Juris and his brother Michael who was with him and his other brother Andrew," Bishop said.

She said Australian consular officials in Egypt moved as quickly as they could to collect Greste from prison and escort him to the airport and make arrangements for his departure.

"From my discussion with him he was very keen to be back on a beach and be lying in the sun in Australia," she said.

"He expressed his heartfelt thanks for the support he's received here in Australia during this ordeal. He thanked the Australian government, the public of Australia and particularly the journalists who had rallied to his cause and he told me that it had sustained him through the very long time that he spent in jail." Endi