ATHENS, Greece -- A British businessman jailed in Iran for 520 days flew to freedom and a reunion with his wife Friday, leaving two other Britons and an American still imprisoned.
Andrew Pyke, a 42-year-old exceutive with a Dutch-Iranian helicopter firm, arrived in Athens from Teheran looking pale but healthy.
He spent a few minutes with photographers in the VIP lounge at Athens International Airport but refused to answer questions.
'I'm all right, as you can see. But I won't say anything until I get back to London,' he said.
Pyke left the airport in a British Embaasy car for a private reunion with his wife, Ursula. The couple will spend the night at the ambassador's residence and leave Saturday for Amsterdam en route home, an embassy official said.
Iranian authorities arrested Pyke Aug. 27, 1980, as he was about to leave the country in the heat of an anti-Western campaign surrounding the detention of 52 American hostages.
The Islamic regime accused Pyke of spying but never filed charges against him in the 17 months he was held -- 76 days longer than the American hostages.
Pyke's family was allowed to visit him before Christmas and shortly after that, he was cleared of suspicion and released Jan. 20.
He remained inside the compound of the Swedish Embassy, which handles British affairs in Tehran, until he was issued an exit visa Friday.
Iran's Islamic news agency said Pyke was released on bail to guarantee his return for trial on charges of unspecified financial irregularities against his company, Helicopter Services Limited.
Diplomats said there was no indication when Iranian officials will release two Britons and six Americans reported by the State Department to remain held in Tehran jails.
Zia Nassry, an Afghan-born naturalized U.S. citizen and New York businessman, was arrested while raising funds for refugees from fighting between Soviet forces and Islamic rebels in neighboring Afghanistan.
He has been held without charges on suspicion of espionage in Evin prison since March 1980.
British businessman Frank Skinner, 53, was seized April 27, 1981, and John Bowden, 46, was taken prisoner in November 1981.
