Reaction to Peter Greste's sentence

REACTION TO CONVICTION OF PETER GRESTE AND COLLEAGUES IN EGYPT

"The eyes of the world are on Egypt ... it is now up to President el-Sisi to do what he said he would do from the outset, and that is pardon us if we were ever convicted." - PETER GRESTE.

"The verdict is plainly political, it is unjust and it offends the rule of law." - Greste's lawyer CHRIS FLYNN.

"(Saturday's) verdict is yet another deliberate attack on press freedom. It's a dark day for the Egyptian judiciary. Rather than defend liberty and the free and fair media, the Egyptian judiciary has compromised its own independence." - Al Jazeera English acting general manager GILES TRENDLE.

"I have spoken with Mr Greste today and reaffirmed that I will continue to pursue all diplomatic avenues with my Egyptian counterpart to clear his name." - Foreign Minister JULIE BISHOP.

"My thoughts are not only with him and his family, but his two journalistic colleagues in Egypt." - Opposition Leader BILL SHORTEN.

"We urge the government of Egypt to take all available measures to redress this verdict, which undermines the very freedom of expression necessary for stability and development." - US State Department spokesman JOHN KIRBY.