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U.S. Embassy resumes normal operations in Egypt

By the CNN Wire Staff
Anti-Mubarak demonstrators gathering near an Egyptian army post in Tahrir Square on February 7, 2011 in Cairo.
Anti-Mubarak demonstrators gathering near an Egyptian army post in Tahrir Square on February 7, 2011 in Cairo.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The State Department lifts the "ordered departure" status for the Cairo Embassy
  • The department announcement cites "the continuing improvements" in Egypt
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(CNN) -- The U.S. Embassy in Cairo has resumed normal operations and the State Department is lifting the "ordered departure" status for its non-emergency staff there, according to a travel alert issued Thursday.

"Given the continuing improvements since the January 25 Revolution, the ordered departure status for the U.S. Embassy has been lifted as of April 29, 2011, and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo has resumed normal operations," the State Department alert said.

The State Department previously ordered the departure of all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their families from Egypt on February 1, at the height of the uprising that ousted ex-leader Hosni Mubarak.

Thursday's notice alerted U.S. citizens traveling in Egypt or heading there of possible "sporadic unrest" because Egyptian security services had yet to fully redeploy in the aftermath of the revolution.

Mubarak is being investigated in connection with the deaths of hundreds of activists during the uprising that led to his departure from office on February 11. The former leader is also under investigation for allegations of corruption and misuse of state funds.

Mubarak was under detention in a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Red Sea resort city, where he has been treated for health problems, including heart palpitations and blood pressure issues. He has been living in the resort city since he was ousted from power.

CNN's Elise Labott and Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo contributed to this report

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