British Embassy in Cairo reopens to the public

CAIRO: The British Embassy in Cairo said on Tuesday it has resumed services to the public, nine days after they were suspended over security concerns about the mission’s main building.
The Canadian embassy next to the British embassy, which also suspended services, remains shut to the public.
“The British embassy in Cairo resumed public services today, Tuesday Dec.16 after security issues related to the building were resolved in cooperation with the Egyptian government,” a statement by the mission said.
On Dec. 7, London closed its embassy to the public for “security reasons,” but without specifying what these were.
The Canadian embassy announced the next day that it was doing the same. Egypt’s authorities said they had no reports of any specific threat to the embassies, but diplomats say some missions have raised concerns about the security provided by the host country.
The embassy closures came as militant attacks rock Egypt since the ouster of President Muhammad Mursi in July 2013.
Jihadist groups say such attacks are retaliation for a government crackdown targeting Mursi supporters.
Meanwhile, Egypt has referred 312 Islamist backers of ousted President Muhammad Mursi to military trial accused of torching a court complex in the city of Ismailiya, a judicial source said Tuesday.