Finally, Peter Greste has been freed.

After 400 days in an Egyptian jail, Peter Greste has been freed.

The news for the Greste family could not get any better.

Rumours yesterday began to surface that Peter Greste, the Australian journalist imprisoned in Egypt would be freed, his family said that it was still just rumours and they would believe it when it was official.

The news overnight came through – he is free and out of Egypt.

He has flown to Cyprus with his brother, Andrew, and will soon be en-route back to Australia.

His release came 400 days after he was jailed in Egypt for charges that included spreading false news in his work for al-Jazeera.

A statement by the Egyptian Interior Ministry said it had been “decided to extradite Australian journalist Peter Greste… to his country today, 1 February (2015)… after the cabinet’s approval, in enforcement of the Presidential Decree no. 140 for the year 2014 regarding the rulings on extraditing defendants and deporting the convicts”.

He was jailed with two other al-Jazeera men – Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.

It has been reported that Mr Fahmy will be deported to Canada after his dual Egyptian nationality was dropped.

An official told Associated Press the release had been coordinated with the Australian embassy in Cairo.

The BBC reports that under Egyptian law he may be required those deported under these circumstances to either to finish his sentence in Australia. It is unclear whether the Government has agreed to that.

Greste and his collegues had been found guilty of aiding a terrorist organisation, belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood opposition group, and making false news that damaged Egypt’s international reputation Gretse and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years jail. Baher Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years.

In a statement, Al Jazeera said the campaign to free its journalists in Egypt will not end till all three have been released. It said that all three have to be exonerated, and the convictions against its other journalists tried in absentia also have to be lifted.

Mostefa Souag, acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network said: “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. Peter’s integrity is not just intact, but has been further enhanced by the fortitude and sacrifice he has shown for his profession of informing the public.

Peter Greste’s family is due to give a press conference at 10am Brisbane time.