Church appeals for mercy after punks sent to jail

Russia's Orthodox Church have appealed to the country's authorities to "show mercy" on the three members of Pussy Riot who were yesterday given a two year jail sentence for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred".

The all-female punk band were arrested after performing a song criticising the country's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.

There has been international condemnation of the court ruling - with Amnesty International vowing to escalate its campaign to have the three women released from prison.