Three key uprising activists jailed by Egyptian court

Three prominent Egyptian secular activists from the 2011 uprising and consequent ousting of former President Egyptian President have been found guilty of organising a recent unauthorised protest and sentenced to three years in jail.

Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohamed Adel are key members of the 6 April Youth Movement that led protests to remove long-time President Mubarak.

They were arrested after protesting in November over a new law saying that public gatherings of more than 10 people must be authorised. The military-installed government has defended the law, saying it is there to "protect the rights of demonstrators", rather than limit the right to protest.

The activists have now been found guilty of organising a protest in November. They had complained that the law was stricter than the measures imposed by the Mubarak regime.

The court in Cairo found them guilty of holding a demonstration without authorisation and attacking police officers and sentenced to three years' hard labour and fined $7,000 each.

As the verdict was read out, the courtroom erupted with chants of "Down, down with military rule! We are in a state, not in a military camp", international media reported.

The three pro-democracy campaigners are the first to be jailed under the controversial new law.