John Baird. (ANDRE FORGET/QMI Agency Files)

Canada has closed its embassy in Cairo, Egypt, for the rest of the day "as a security precaution, and to ensure the protection of Canadian staff," a Foreign Affairs spokeswoman confirmed Thursday morning.

"We are monitoring events closely and taking appropriate security measures," Amanda Reid said.

Anger over an anti-Islam film sparked a third day of violent protests and riots near the U.S. Embassy, which was also closed Thursday. The Canadian Embassy is located just half a kilometre away.

American diplomatic missions in the Middle East are on heightened alert after an attack on the embassy in Benghazi, Libya, on Tuesday left four dead, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.