Deportation near for Australian journalist

Al-Jazeera English producer Baher Mohamed, left, Canadian-Egyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, center, and correspondent Peter Greste, right. Photo / AP

Jailed Australian journalist Peter Greste could be released and deported from Egypt as early as today, unconfirmed reports suggest.

Today will mark 400 days since the al-Jazeera reporter's arrest and imprisonment, with two colleagues.

Greste and Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohammed Fahmy were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, and Egyptian Baher Mohammed received 10 years.

The trio were convicted of fabricating news footage on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, despite no evidence being produced.

Last month Egypt's Court of Cassation ordered a retrial of Greste and his colleagues and at the time, his family said they were pinning hopes for their son's freedom on his chances of being deported before a second trial.

The Sydney Morning Herald said that according to unconfirmed reports out of Egypt, a presidential decree was issued clearing the way for Greste to return home.

Andrew Greste said yesterday that he's had no confirmation of reports his brother Peter will be released from jail in Egypt and deported and would keep campaigning for his freedom.

Egypt issued a decree in November granting its president the power to deport foreign defendants convicted or accused of crimes.

It's for this reason that a presidential pardon for Greste has not been ruled out.

- Daily Mail