TONY AMBATIELOS, 51-YEAR-OLD GREEK SEAMEN'S LEADER, WAS FREED YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) AFTER 17 YEARS IN PRISON. WAITING OUTSIDE THE PRISON ON AEGHINA ISLAND WAS HIS BRITISH-BORN WIFE BETTY, WHO HAD CAMPAIGNED CONTINUOUSLY FOR HIS RELEASE.

AMBATIELOS WAS AMONG 24 POLITICAL PRISONERS RELEASED FROM THE PRISON. THEY ARE THE FIRST OF MORE THAN 400 BEING RELEASED ON PROBATION IN GREECE THIS WEEK. AMBATIELOS HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY SENTENCED TO DEATH IN 1947 FOR HELPING COMMUNIST GUERILLAS IN THE GREEK CIVIL WAR. THIS WAS COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN 1952.

FILM SHOWS AMBATIELOS LEAVING PRISON AND HIS REUNION WITH HIS WIFE. MRS. AMBATIELOS HAD FLOWN FROM BRITAIN TO GREET HER HUSBAND. THEY KISSED EACH OTHER AGAIN AND AGAIN, WEEPING FOR JOY. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MR. AMBATIELOS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE EFFORT OF HIS WIFE AND HIS FRIENDS ABROAD AND IN GREECE TO OBTAIN HIS RELEASE. HE SAID: "MY FIRST DUTY WILL BE TO GO TO BRITAIN TO THANK MY FRIENDS WHO HELPED ME, IF THE GREEK GOVERNMENT GRANTS ME PERMISSION. BETTY AND I BADLY NEED A GOOD HOLIDAY".

SOON AFTER MR. AMBATIELOS LEFT PRISON, THE COUPLE SAILED FOR PIRAEUS, PORT OF ATHENS, WITH THE 23 OTHER FREED PRISONERS. WAITING TO GREET THEM WHEN THEY ARRIVED, WERE MORE THAN 250 YOUTHS SHOUTING "LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE". THEY CARRIED AMBATIELOS TO A TAXI WHICH TOOK HIM TO HIS MOTHER'S HOME IN A PIRAEUS SUBURB.