Sudanese president frees jailed Czech missionary

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has ordered the release of a Czech national who was sentenced to 20 years in jail for spying and inciting hatred, the AFP agency reported on Sunday. Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour announced the news at a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart Lubomír Zaorálek, who flew to Khartoum earlier on Sunday to negotiate Mr Jašek's release. "President Bashir has pardoned Czech national Petr Jašek because of good relations between Sudan and the Czech Republic," the AFP quoted him saying. According to the spokeswoman of the Czech Foreign Ministry, Irena Valentová, Petr Jašek will arrive in Prague on board of the Czech delegation`s plane at around 11 p.m. on Sunday. The arrival will be followed by a press briefing, she added.