Freed Al Jazeera journalist reveals tears of joy at release from prison

Baher Mohamed said he broke down in tears when he saw his children for the first time after being freed Credit: Reuters

Freed Al Jazeera journalist Baher Mohamed broke down in tears when he saw his children for the first time since being granted bail after more than a year behind bars in Egypt, he has revealed.

Canadian national Mohamed was released from prison on Friday pending a retrial, after he and two of his colleagues - fellow Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Australian Peter Greste - were jailed for alleged terror offences.

Speaking for the first time after his release, cameraman Mohamed said he had felt like a "big rock" had been removed from his chest.

He said his children had begged him not to go to work again.

He also spoke of his time in prison, and said it was a firm belief that he and the others were standing up for the principle of freedom of speech that kept them going.

He said he firmly believed he would be exonerated completely after the retrial, saying there was "no evidence" against any of the three.

The next hearing has been scheduled for February 23.