Egypt's Cabinet released on Saturday a statement apologising for the actions of certain protesters against the Saudi Arabian embassy in Cairo, stressing that such acts only represent agrieved individuals.
In the statement, the government further condemned any act against the Saudi embassy describing it as "irresponsible" and "spontaneous" moves that harm "deep-rooted" Egypt-Saudi relations.
The statement was released after Saudi Arabia decided on Saturday afternoon to withdraw its ambassador from Egypt and close its embassy and consulates in the country.
Egyptians have been protesting against the Kingdom at its embassy in the Giza district of Cairo, calling for the release of lawyer Ahmed El-Gizawi and denouncing the mistreatment of Egyptians in the oil rich country. El-Gizawi was detained for reportedly "defaming the king," after he filed a lawsuit in a South Cairo court against Saudi monarch King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saud on behalf of Egyptians currently languishing in the Kingdom's prisons without charge.
Following reports that El-Gizawi had recieved a one year prison sentence and a punishment of 20 lashes, Kindgom officials denied these claims, stating that the Egyptian lawyer was arrested by Saudi authorities after being found in possession of more than 21,000 pills of anti-depressant drug Xanax, trade in which is proscribed in the Kingdom.
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