Australian Robert Pether free to leave Iraq after diplomatic pressure

Key points

• Authorities in Iraq have allowed Australian engineer Robert Pether to leave the country, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed. Mr Pether was released from jail last year after serving four years of a five-year sentence, but he was restricted from leaving.
• Senator Wong said she spoke to him before his departure from Baghdad and thanked Irish and Australian officials involved. Mr Pether and an Egyptian colleague were sentenced over a contract dispute on fraud charges, which both men deny.
• His wife, Desree, said Australia could be doing more.