An Omani court today upheld a government order to permanently close a national newspaper and jailed three of its journalists for undermining the state, judicial sources said.

Authorities shut down Azamn daily in August, drawing condemnation from international rights groups.

During today's hearing, the court sentenced editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Maamari and his deputy Yousef al-Haj to three years in prison, the sources said. 

The pair were also ordered to pay a fine of 3,000 rials (USD 7,800) each and were banned from working in journalism for one year.

The court also jailed their colleague Zaher al-Abri for one year. He was also fined 1,000 rials (USD 2,600).