Al-Jazeera journalists sentenced to three years in jail after retrial

Egypt's foreign ministry has summoned the British ambassador over comments he made on a court's decision to hand down prison sentences for three Al-Jazeera journalists, state television reported.

John Casson has suggested that Egypt's stability should be built on freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

On Saturday, the journalists were sentenced to three years for operating without a press licence and broadcasting material said to be harmful to Egypt.

Mohamed Fahmy a naturalised Canadian who has given up his Egyptian citizenship, and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict.

Australian Peter Greste was sentenced in absentia after he was deported from the country in February.

The US State Department has said it is "deeply disappointed" by the verdict handed down to three Al-Jazeera English journalists in the Egyptian court today.

The journalists were sentenced to three years in prison for operating without a press license and broadcasting material said to be harmful to Egypt.

The Government has called on Egypt to take urgent action to resolve the position of two British reporters caught up in legal cases against journalists in the country.

Minister for Middle East and North Africa Tobias Ellwood spoke after an Egyptian court sentenced three Al-Jazeera English journalists to three years in prison for broadcasting false news.

Two British journalists, Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, have previously been tried in their absence, and found guilty.

Journalist Peter Greste has reacted angrily after an Egyptian court sentenced him and two al-Jazeera colleages to three years in prison for broadcasting "harmful" material.

Mr Greste was sentenced in absentia after being deported in February but Mohamed Fahmy a naturalised Canadian who has given up his Egyptian citizenship, and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict.

The broadcaster Al Jazeera has condemned an Egyptian court's decision to sentence three of its journalists to three years in prison after a retrial.

In a statement, the channel's general director Mostefa Souag said: "This judgment is a new attack on the freedom of the press and it's a black day in the history of the Egyptian judiciary."

Mohamed Fahmy a naturalised Canadian who has given up his Egyptian citizenship, and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict.

Australian Peter Greste was sentenced in absentia after he was deported in February.

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has said the sentencing of three al-Jazeera journalists to three years in jail after a retrial sends a "very dangerous message".

An Egyptian court today ruled that they had operated without a press license and had broadcast harmful material.

Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were led way after the verdict but Australian Peter Greste was sentenced in absentia after he was deported in February.

Mrs Clooney, who represents Mr Fahmy said: "Everyone has said there is no evidence to sustain any of the charges and Egypt's own Supreme Court when they looked at this case said there wasn't sufficient evidence.

"The verdict today sends a very dangerous message in Egypt. It sends a message that journalists can be locked up for simply doing their job, for telling the truth and reporting the news", she added.