An Egyptian court sentenced three Al-Jazeera reporters to three years in prison on Saturday.

An Egyptian court sentenced three Al-Jazeera reporters to three years in prison on Saturday, despite a global campaign calling for their release.

Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed were present in court. Australian journalist Peter Greste was tried in absentia after his deportation early this year.

Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera condemned the decision as a "deliberate attack on press freedom".

The Qatar-based broadcaster said in a statement released just minutes after the decision was announced in a Cairo court that the verdict "defies logic and freedom" and it would not rest until its staff "are freed".

"It is a dark day for the Egyptian judiciary; rather than defend liberties and a free and fair media they have compromised their independence for political reasons."

It added: "The whole case has been politicized and has not been conducted in a free and fair manner."

At least three other co-defendants, accused of working with Al-Jazeera, received similar sentences.

Their retrial was ordered after an appeals court overturned an initial sentence of seven years in prison, saying the prosecution had presented scant evidence against them.

Fahmy and Greste were arrested in December 2013, six months after the overthrow of Muslim Brotherhood President Mohammad Mursi.

The three were accused of having supported the Brotherhood in their coverage.

Relations between Egypt and Qatar remain tense with Cairo accusing Doha of supporting the Brotherhood.