Ali Agca, the failed assassin of John Paul II, has been released from prison after serving a 19-year sentence in Ankara, Turkey.

He now faces conscription and is pending an examination assessing whether he is fit for service.

The reason behind the assassination attempt may soon be revealed as Agca recently declared in a statement that he is willing to answer questions concerning why he shot the Polish pontiff on 13 May 1981.

He was released from an Italian prison upon a pardon in 2000 and transferred to Turkey to serve a sentence for other crimes, including murder. The 54-year-old spent almost 30 years of his life in prison. (ab)