Canada's Prime Minister Harper
Canada's Prime Minister HarperReuters

Canada has temporarily closed its embassy in Cairo because of rioting over an anti-Muslim film, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told the Toronto Star Thursday.

“As a security precaution, and to ensure the protection of Canadian staff, we have closed our Embassy in Cairo for the day,” Baird said in an email statement to the Star.

The Canadian embassy is located only 400 meters from the U.S. embassy in Cairo, where Muslim fanatics have been rioting for three days because a group of Americans made a film that offended them. 

“We take the safety of our personnel and our mission overseas very seriously. We are monitoring events closely and taking appropriate security measures,” said Baird.

Egyptian government officials said Thursday that at least 13 protesters and six police officers were injured in the rioting. Security personnel have been trying to disperse the mob, which gathered in Tahrir Square, by firing tear gas canisters from police vehicles.