Egypt's foreign ministry has called in the British ambassador to Cairo amid diplomatic tension after three Al Jazeera English journalists were sentenced to three years' prison each for reporting "false news".

John Casson made comments that were critical of the sentences, which the ministry said were "unacceptable interference" in the country's judiciary, and "incompatible with diplomatic norms and practices".

A court sentenced the Canadian Mohammed Fahmy, Australian Peter Greste and Egyptian Baher Mohammed on Saturday, sparking renewed uproar over the long-running case and highlighting the authorities' crackdown on free speech.