HIS mega-watt smile could electrify an entire power station, but freed Al Jazeera reporter Peter Greste remains committed to securing the same release for his two co-workers who remain locked inside an Egyptian prison hell.
The Australian foreign correspondent has told ABC 7.30 host Leigh Sales he has been “overwhelmed and humbled” by the public and media support worldwide which championed his freedom and led to his deportation back home after 400 days in jail on fraudulent charges he consorted with banned group, the Muslim Brotherhood.
In jubilant scenes at Brisbane International Airport overnight, Greste was welcomed back by family and friends who have worked tirelessly for his release and safe return.
FINALLY: Peter Greste touches down on Australian soil
All smiles ... Freed Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste at the ABC in Brisbane today. Picture: AP Source: AP
But the former CNN, BBC and ABC reporter said he would devote himself to freeing his friends and colleagues, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.
Greste said: “look, of course I am anxious and feel very strongly...they’re my friends and my brothers. I have been in prison with them for such a long time and so I am concerned about them.”
He said while he was “grateful to be free and I am grateful we have got to this stage...I just hope that they will follow and sooner rather than later.”
Sentenced to seven years jail, Greste said the secret to surviving more than a year inside the Cairo prison was “keeping fit.”
Home at last ... Peter Greste is hugged by his mother Lois, and father Juris, after his arrival in Brisbane. Picture: AP Source: AP
“When you are in that kind of environment, if you simply float through the days, there’s always a real danger that you will wane down...physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and so you have got to make the choice to keep fit on all of those levels.”
His release made international news, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott praising Egyptian President Sisi for pardoning the Australian and urging him to release his two co-workers.
Greste offered his thanks to those who joined the social media campaign to #FreeAJStaff (the hashtag retweeted around the world in support of the jailed trio).
“I am so incredibly happy and overwhelmed, humbled really by the extraordinary response that we have been getting. The public response, the media response, has been absolutely incredible.”
The full interview with Sales airs on ABC at 7.30pm tonight.
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