Turkey frees pastor amid US tensions despite terror conviction

An American evangelical Christian pastor at the centre of a row between Ankara and Washington looked set to fly home on Friday after a Turkish court freed him.

US pastor Andrew Brunson (R) arrives to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport after he was released following his trial at the Aliaga Prison Court Source: AAP

A Turkish court on Friday freed an American pastor held for the last two years, in a case that sparked a crisis in Turkey's ties with the United States and trouble for its economy.

The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail, an AFP correspondent said.

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