MUSCAT: An Omani appeal court has upheld the jail sentences of six people whose social media posts were ruled as "slander" against the country's ruler, state news has reported.

The six were given jail terms of 12 to 18 months and fined 1000 Omani rials (£1614) in July for the posts on Twitter and Facebook. The rulings were part of a crackdown after Oman quelled protests last year.