The 14 women appeared inside the special cage in the Alexandria courtroom on Saturday, dressed in prison-issued white garments and holding red roses.

The incarcerated women had written the word "freedom" on their palms.

Another appeals court also ordered the release of seven girls, who were jailed last month over a protest in support of military-ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

The women's supporters in the Alexandria courtroom chanted "God is great" as the judge pronounced the ruling.

The girls, who had initially been sentenced to juvenile detention, were ordered freed by a separate court but placed on three-month probation.

They were all convicted last month of participating in a protest rally demanding reinstatement of the nation’s first democratically-elected president following his overthrow by the army in July.

There was a heavy police presence outside the court complex.

RA/MB