Egypt's president has acknowledged for the first time that the heavy sentences handed down to three Al Jazeera journalists had a "very negative" impact on his country's reputation, saying he wished they were never put on trial.

The comments by Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi (pictured, Reuters) to editors of Egyptian media outlets were the first public recognition by Egyptian officials that the case had been damaging to the country's relations with the international community.

The sentencing of the three journalists on June 23, after a five-month trial described as a "sham" by rights groups, caused an international outcry.