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Protesters hold a sign and photographs of detained journalists of Al Jazeera during a protest outside the Egyptian embassy in Mexico City February 27, 2014. Broadcaster Al Jazeera called for vigils outside Egyptian embassies across the world on Thursday to press Egypt to free four of its journalists, three of whom have been charged with aiding a "terrorist organization". The three from al Jazeera's English-language television service - Peter Greste, an Australian; Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian-Egyptian national; and Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian - were detained in Cairo on December 29, 2013. Picture taken February 27, 2014. REUTERS/Bernardo Montoya

Peter Greste, the Australian journalist who has been jailed in Egypt for 400 days, is on his way home. The Al Jazeera journalist asked Cairo authorities to release the other two journalists who had been jailed along with him on similar charges.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Greste family is “ecstatic” about Peter’s release. His mother Lois has said that she is not able to find enough words to express her happiness. According to her, it is difficult to realise that this day has actually come. Even though she has dreamed of Peter’s release “quietly,” she has not dared to think much about it.

Peter, arrested around Christmas 2013, was released on Sunday. He gave his first interview to Al Jazeera since his release and said that he felt “angst” for leaving his colleagues behind in Egypt. Even though he was relieved about his release, he said that he felt a sense of concern about the other two journalists. Mohamed Fahmy, Canadian-Egyptian bureau chief for Al-Jazeera, and Al-Jazeera producer Baher Mohamed, an Egyptian, are the other two prisoners. Peter said that it was right for the other two to be released if it was right for him.

Peter said that he had focused on maintain his fitness physically, mentally and spiritually during the captivity. “I made a very conscious effort to deal with all three of those things to try and keep fit, running in a very limited space, to keep up an exercise program, to keep mentally fit with study and spiritually fit too, with meditation,” Al Jazeera quotes Peter, “And hopefully, touch wood, I haven't come out of it too damaged.”

Peter also said that he had been surprised by the sudden release. He was not expecting to be released at all, he said. He added that he had felt they would have to spend an extended stretch in prison. When the prison warden told him to pack his stuff and go, he thought he was going to another prison. Peter said that the prison time helped him grow close to his colleagues.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@IBTimes.com.au