Egypt now recognises that its prosecution of journalists was flawed

The fundamental for Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohamed and Peter Greste is that the Cairo court system, prosecution in particular, now formally recognises that their initial trial was fatally flawed.

That puts them in a far better place than they were in yesterday. However those close to them say they are a bit dispirited at the news, having hoped they would be bailed.

Further, other Al Jazeera staff like Sue Turton who was also convicted, but in absentia, are unaffected by today’s development so she remains wanted and only by going to Egypt can her situation change and that is clearly a very difficult option.

The hope must be therefore that the trial of the thee now imprisoned for a year and three days, can be concluded as fast as possible. There being no meaningful evidence for the original conviction, the hope must be that they can soon be duly acquitted by due process.

That allows everyone off the hook and I include Cairo in that, whose interests are further damaged with every hour that passes in this situation.