Released US pastor Brunson leaves Turkey for Germany

U.S. 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.

Turkey then retaliated by raising tariffs on U.S. imports and boycotting U.S.-made electronics, sparking one of the worst diplomatic rows between the NATO allies.

The row has contributed to a fall in the value of the Turkish currency, as Turkey is facing economic woes including huge debt and high inflation.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration had repeatedly called for unconditional release of Brunson, threatening further punitive measures against Ankara.