US pastor Andrew Brunson leaves Turkey

US pastor Andrew Brunson, who was convicted on terror charges, has left Turkey after release by a court. The evangelical pastor from North Carolina and his wife Norine took flight at a private terminal in Adnan Menderes Airport in the coastal Izmir province late last night, according to the Turkish media.

The Turkish court lifted Brunson's house arrest



and ban on travel yesterday after sentencing him to over three years. But since he had already spent nearly two years in detention, Turkish law allowed him to go free with time served.
 
US Vice President Mike Pence tweeted earlier that he and his wife look forward to welcoming Pastor Brunson and his wife Norine back to the United State.