Two Canadians detained in Cairo for almost two months were released after investigators found they had been working as journalists and had not participated in violence.

North Cairo Prosecution made the statement after John Greyson and Tarek Loubandi were released on Sunday morning.

They were arrested on 16 August amid clashes between security forces and supporters of former president Mohamed Morsi while passing through Egypt on their way to the Gaza Strip.

There was an international petition and an official Canadian campaign for their release. Both men underwent a hunger strike for two weeks to demand their release.

In a joint letter posted on a website created by supporters, Greyson and Loudandi said they were "slapped, beaten, ridiculed" by police after their arrest and accused of being "foreign mercenaries."