ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) An American evangelical Christian pastor at the center of a row between Ankara and Washington looked set to fly home on Friday after a Turkish court freed him, a move that may signal a step towards mending ties between the allies.

Pastor Andrew Brunson arrived at an airport in western Turkey's Izmir province, a Reuters photographer said, amid expectations that the clergyman would soon board a plane to depart the country.

Brunson was released after the court sentenced him to three years and 1-1/2 months in prison on terrorism charges, but said he would not serve any further jail time.

Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, was jailed two years ago and has been under house arrest since July.