Australian Al Jazeera reporter Peter Greste has called on Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon him and two colleagues handed three-year prison sentences, describing the court decision as "politically motivated".

Key points: Peter Greste calls on Egyptian president to pardon him and two colleagues

Peter Greste calls on Egyptian president to pardon him and two colleagues Claims case was "politically motivated"

Claims case was "politically motivated" Greste to avoid jail time but Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed back in custody

Greste to avoid jail time but Mohammed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed back in custody Julie Bishop says she will "do all that we can do help him clear his name"

Greste, Canadian Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were sentenced for broadcasting "false" news that harmed Egypt in a retrial on Saturday.

The shock ruling by the Cairo court has drawn international criticism.

"In the absence of any evidence of wrongdoing, the only conclusion that we can come to is that this verdict was politically motivated," Greste, who was tried in absentia after being deported in February, said in Sydney.

"President Sisi now has an opportunity to undo that injustice, to correct that injustice. The eyes of the world are on Egypt.

"It is now up to President Sisi to do what he said he would do from the outset and that is pardon us if we were ever convicted."

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Greste will avoid the jail time but his two colleagues were immediately taken back into police custody, without the chance to say goodbye to their devastated families.

Fahmy got married just three weeks ago while Mohamed celebrated the one-year birthday of his son on Friday.

But the pair have now spent their first night back in jail.

Greste vowed to use "every legal, political, diplomatic and social means" to fight the verdict.

"We will continue to fight this using every available means open to us," Greste said.

"This is about what this means for due process in Egypt. It's about what it means for the rule of law in Egypt. It is also about what it means about freedom of the press and democracy in Egypt."

On Sunday, Egypt's foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador over his criticism of the prison sentences handed to the three journalists.

"What counts is the Egyptian people's confidence in the transparency and independence of the Egyptian judiciary," the foreign ministry said, calling ambassador John Casson's comments "unacceptable interference".

"Egypt needs lessons from no-one."

After attending Saturday's court hearing, Mr Casson had criticised the proceedings in a statement on his Facebook page.

"This case ... has become a symbol of the basis for stability in the new Egypt," he said.

Government will 'do all that we can': Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Government would "do all that we can to help him clear [Greste's] name".

"He's not in Egypt so that could limit the legal processes that he can undertake," Ms Bishop said.

"But most certainly, there is available a presidential pardon, and we made numerous representations to President Sisi in the lead-up to the appeal, in relation to the first trial, and now the retrial."

The three journalists were arrested in December 2013, six months after the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

They were charged with supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood and operating in Egypt without a licence.

When they were first sentenced in June last year, Greste and Fahmy received seven years' prison, while Mohamed received 10 years.

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

The case has become an embarrassment for Mr Sisi, who has said he wished the reporters had been deported rather than put on trial.

Al Jazeera television journalists Mohammed Fahmy (C) and Baher Mohamed (L), talk to the media before hearing the verdict. ( Reuters: Asmaa Waguih )

AFP/ABC