Germany releases detained Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour

Qatari channel's journalist was held for two days on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by Egyptian authorities

Demonstrators in Germany demanded the release of Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour (Getty)

German authorities have released an Al Jazeera journalist detained in Berlin on an Egyptian arrest warrant.

A spokesman from the Berlin prosecutor's office said that Ahmed Mansour, a 52-year-old journalist with the Qatari news organisation, was "free", but gave no further details.

Mr Mansour's attorney Patrick Teubner said that he understood his client's release was unconditional.

"I think that was absolutely the right decision," Mr Teubner was quoted by The Associated Press as saying. "There was no other alternative."

Ahead of Mr Mansour's release dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the justice building, carrying signs that read "stop the bloodbath in Egypt" and "freedom for Ahmed Mansour".

Mr Mansour was arrested on Saturday at Berlin's Tegel airport where he was due to board a flight to Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based.

He was held for two days under an arrest warrant issued by the Egyptian government.

In 2014 an Egyptian court convicted Mr Mansour in absentia of torturing a lawyer in Tahrir Square in 2011, a charge both he and Al Jazeera denies.

Qatar and Egypt have been involved in a long-running diplomatic spat with Egypt accusing Qatar of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood.

(Additional reporting by agencies)