A court in Ethiopia has convicted two Swedish journalists of supporting terrorism and entering the country illegally.

A judge at the court in Addis Ababa said Wednesday it is unlikely the journalists were trying to gather news when they entered Ethiopia with the rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front. Ethiopia has designated the ONLF as a terrorist group.

Ethiopian troops arrested investigative reporter Martin Schibbye and photojournalist Johan Persson in July as they were traveling with the rebels to do a story on the drought and malnutrition crisis in parts of Ethiopia.

The journalists have admitted to entering the country illegally and now face more than 18 years in prison for both charges.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International called for their immediate release, saying there was no evidence the journalists supported the ONLF and that they were prosecuted for their “legitimate work.”

Sweden's foreign ministry has defended the journalists, saying they were in the region solely to do reporting.

Ethiopia sharply restricts journalists and humanitarian aid workers in accessing the Ogaden region, which borders Somalia.

The ONLF has been fighting for regional independence from Ethiopia since 1984. The rebels accuse Ethiopia of atrocities against the region's largely ethnic Somali population.

Human rights and aid groups have accused both the ONLF and pro-government forces of numerous rights violations during the conflict. Both sides have denied the charges.