Katatni By Maher Abbas Saudi Gazette RIYADH — King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Friday ordered the return of the Kingdom's ambassador to Egypt and the reopening of diplomatic missions which were closed last week in the wake of protests. The King “instructed the Kingdom's ambassador to Cairo to resume his post on Sunday, and ordered the reopening of the embassy and the consulates in Alexandria and Suez,” Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The decision was announced after a high-ranking Egyptian delegation called on the King. The Egyptian delegation, headed by Parliament Speaker Dr. Saad El-Katatni and the head of the Shoura Council Ahmed Fahmy, arrived in Riyadh Thursday on a mission to defuse tension. King Abdullah told the delegation that the recent deterioration in relations was “painful to every honest Saudi and Egyptian citizen,” adding that the Kingdom's decision to shut its mission “was only to protect its staff.” King Abdullah also hoped that the media in both countries would maintain a “noble position” on bilateral issues. Dr. El-Katatni said in an interview to Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the Egyptian People's Assembly will not interfere in the case of Al-Jizawee, who is accused of smuggling narcotic tablets into the Kingdom. He reaffirmed his confidence and that of the Egyptian people in the integrity and justice of the Saudi judiciary. “We trust the Saudi judiciary and we won't interfere in this case.” – With input from Faleh Al
