RIYADH, April 28: Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador from Egypt for consultations and has closed its embassy in Cairo and its consulates in Alexandria and Suez.

The step was taken ‘due to unjustified demonstrations and protests in front of the Kingdom's missions in the Arab Republic of Egypt, attempts to storm and threaten the security and safety of Saudi and Egyptian employees, raising hostile slogans and violating the inviolability and sovereignty of the diplomatic missions which are against all international norms and laws,’ a statement released on Saudi Press Agency said.

As demonstrators attempted to disrupt the work of the Saudi embassy and consulates, including its efforts to facilitate the travel of Egyptian workers and pilgrims, the government of Saudi Arabia has decided to recall its ambassador for consultations and close its embassy in Cairo and its consulates in Alexandria and Suez, the report also added.

The unexpected escalation followed days of protests by hundreds of Egyptians outside the Saudi Embassy in Cairo and consulates in other cities to demand the release of Ahmed el-Gezawi. Relatives and human rights groups say he was detained for allegedly insulting the kingdom's monarch. Saudi authorities denied that and said he was arrested for trying to smuggle anti-anxiety drugs into the oil-rich kingdom.

This is the worst diplomatic tension between the two regional powerhouses since Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries broke off diplomatic ties with Egypt after it signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Diplomatic relations were restored in 1987.

He flew to Jeddah on Umrah visa. However, Saudi authorities say the lawyer Al-Gizawi (whose name in passport is Ahmed Mohammed Tharwat Al-Sayyid) was apprehended for possessing narcotic pills when he landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport last Tuesday.

“The airport customs officials seized 21,380 narcotic pills that were found hidden in the packet of baby milk powder and cases of two copies of the Holy Quran from his luggage.

Further, even though Al-Gizawi arrived on an Umrah visa, he was not wearing pilgrims’ Ihram clothes,” the Saudi ambassador in Egypt Al-Qattan said in a press statement.