An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced the head of the journalists' union and two members to two years in prison for "harbouring fugitives", allowing them to pay bail pending an appeal.

Egyptian Journalists Syndicate president Yahiya Kallash, secretary general Gamal Abd el-Rahim and freedoms committee chief Khaled Elbalshy were charged in May with sheltering two journalists who were wanted for taking part in protests over the controversial transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The court set bail at 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($615, 580 euros), a court official said.