Canadian minister hopes for Jazeera reporter's release after Cairo talks
By Stephen Kalin CAIRO (Reuters) - Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said after "constructive" talks in Cairo on Thursday he hoped that a Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera television could be released before long from an Egyptian prison. Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste were sentenced last June to between seven and 10 years for spreading lies to help a "terrorist organization", a reference to Egypt's outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in November the issue of a presidential pardon was under discussion. Egypt's High Court ordered a retrial of the men on Jan. 1. Baird sounded cautiously optimistic after talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri. "I would characterize the meeting as constructive and worthwhile, and we look forward to resolving that issue. It's still not resolved today, but that’s why I came," he told a news conference. "This is a complex case ... The minister understands how important this is to me, to all Canadians. I thought today’s meeting was a very constructive step on the road to a successful resolution." Rights groups and Western governments have criticized the detentions. Al Jazeera says the trial was flawed and has demanded their release. Baird seemed hopeful that Fahmy could be released soon. "We’re working toward a constructive resolution on that sooner rather than later," he said. Fahmy's fiancee, Marwa Omara, said he had signed documents required for his deportation to Canada and that she was told the process was in its final stages. "I had high expectations that Mohamed might be released during Mr. Baird's visit, but I understand it's a big case and it's going to take some time," she said after a 15-minute meeting with Baird. Qatar was one of the main supporters of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood during their year in power before his government was ousted by Sisi, then army chief, in July 2013. Egypt has accused Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for the now-banned Brotherhood, which the channel denies. Sisi met a Qatari envoy last month, the latest step in diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia to help patch up ties. Shukri told Reuters this week a decision by the Doha-based channel to halt broadcasts last month of its Egypt-focused operation Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, whose content angered Cairo, would help improve strained ties with Qatar. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
