Saudi Arabia recalls envoy from Cairo 

(MENAFN - Arab News) Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Egypt and ordered the closure of its embassy in Cairo and consulates in Alexandria and Suez, said a top Saudi official here yesterday.

"But it is a temporary step taken by Riyadh for safety and security of our diplomats and support staff working at our missions," said Alauddin Alaskary, deputy foreign minister for protocol affairs.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah told Egypt's military ruler Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi that he would review within a few days the decision to withdraw the ambassador, in light of the historic relations between the two countries.

"We'll look into this matter in the coming days considering the situation and interests of the two countries based on the longstanding historic and friendly relations," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as telling Tantawi.

The Egyptian military ruler earlier requested King Abdullah to review the decision to recall the ambassador and close down the embassy and consulates in the Arab country.

The closure of the Saudi diplomatic missions came after protests in front of the embassy and "attempts to storm and threaten the security and safety of its employees of both Saudi and Egyptian nationality," said a report published by the Saudi Press Agency.

The report said that the move to recall the envoy and to close the Saudi Embassy was prompted by "unjustified protests" in Egypt and threats made by demonstrators against the embassy's personnel as well as to those working at Saudi consulates.

The protests were sparked by the detention in Jeddah earlier this month of Egyptian lawyer Ahmed El-Gezawi on charges of carrying narcotic pills in his luggage.

The report said that El-Gezawi has been accused of smuggling drugs into Saudi Arabia. Also, Cairo-based Saudi Embassy said in a statement that El-Gezawi has not been convicted or sentenced in any case so far. "Instead, he was being questioned by authorities after airport officials in Jeddah found more than 20,000 anti-anxiety pills hidden inside his luggage," said the statement, adding that El-Gezawi was not wearing pilgrim's clothes as his family claims.

The Egyptian news agency said Tantawi had learned about the Saudi decision from Egypt's Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr, while he was in the middle of a meeting with political parties and movements discussing the constituent assembly.

Last Wednesday, Amr called his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal and discussed the issue of El-Gezawi.

Prince Saud agreed to Amr's request that the authorities allow the Egyptian consul in Jeddah to visit El-Gezawi and extend him their services at the earliest possible opportunity. The Saudi director of the Drug Enforcement Department has confirmed to the consul that El-Gezawi is being treated well.

The Egyptian Embassy in Riyadh is in touch with Saudi foreign and interior ministries. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have been close allies over the years. The Kingdom has helped Egypt in times of need and in all emergency situations. Riyadh is set to send Egypt billions of dollars in aid, and out of this 500 million has already been disbursed. The Saudi aid package demonstrates good relations between the two countries. The Kingdom and Egypt, both members of the G20, are highly influential countries in the Arab world.