Egypt summon UK Ambassador over criticism of Al Jazeera trial

CAIRO: Egypt today summoned the British Ambassador here to object to his comments on an Egyptian court's decision to hand down three-year jail term to three Al Jazeera journalists, including two foreigners.

The three Al-Jazeera journalists -- Canadian national Mohammed Fahmy, Australian journalist Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed -- were sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for spreading false news intended to harm the national security and joining the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

After the court verdict, the UK Ambassador John Casson said that he is "shocked" by the sentences issued by the court.

"This case has attracted international attention not least because of the presence of foreign citizens among the accused...But this case is of even more profound interest to Egyptians because it has become a symbol of the basis for stability in the new Egypt," he said in a statement published by the Embassy's page on Facebook.

Egypt Foreign Ministry summoned Casson and expressed its "strong objection" to his comments, describing them as an "unacceptable interference" in Egypt's judiciary, Egyptian TV said.