Released US pastor Brunson leaves Turkey for Germany

ISTANBUL - US pastor Andrew Brunson on Friday night left Turkey for Germany after a Turkish court ordered his release hours earlier, local media reported.

Brunson quit the country by a private jet from the Adnan Menderes airport in the western province of Izmir, the broadcaster NTV said, noting he will return to the United States following a two-day stay in Germany.

A court in Izmir on Friday afternoon sentenced the 50-year-old pastor to jail for three years, one month and 15 days over terror-related charges, but set him free as he had been jailed since December 2016.

The release and departure of Brunson have removed an irritant in Ankara-Washington ties, as the United States has punished Turkey in August by imposing sanctions on two Turkish ministers and doubling tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Turkey.