- Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Cairo
- The closures come after protests in front of the embassy
- Throngs of Egyptians are calling for the release of Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed el-Gezawi
- Saudi officials have said el-Gezawi was arrested trying to smuggle pills into the country
(CNN) -- Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Cairo and ordered the closure of its embassy in Egypt, as well as its consulates in the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Suez, the country's state news agency reported Saturday .
The closures come 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," the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Throngs of Egyptians had gathered in front of the Saudi Embassy this week, calling for the release of Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed el-Gezawi who was detained earlier this month for allegedly insulting King Abdullah. Saudi officials say el-Gezawi was arrested trying to smuggle pills into the country.
The protests and Saturday's decision to remove diplomatic personnel from Egypt likely revived longstanding tensions between Egypt and the oil-rich kingdom.
