Egypt frees two Britons

A British woman has been released from an Egyptian jail after serving four years of a 25- year sentence for drug smuggling. The Foreign Office said Maureen Paleschi, 53, from Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, had been granted a release on medical grounds. She was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment after being convicted of attempting to smuggle pounds 375,000 worth of heroin into Egypt.

Paul Collett, 44, from Birmingham, was released with her, again on medical grounds. He was sentenced to 25 years jail in 1984, also for drug smuggling. The pair were flown to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, by RAF jet.