U.S. reopens Egypt embassy as envoy arrives in Cairo

• Bill Burns will hold high level talks with Egypt%27s interim government
• Embassy was closed to public for two weeks amid widespread unrest
• Egypt continues on a turbulent political transition

CAIRO — The U.S. Embassy in Cairo reopened Monday as a senior Washington official was due to hold talks with the nation's military-supported leaders.

The embassy was closed to the public for two weeks amid widespread unrest and mass protests in Tahrir Square, a symbolic heart of dissent that is very close to the embassy. In recent weeks, the square was a primary rally point for opponents of now-deposed president Mohammed Morsi.

But street action in the embassy vicinity dwindled before Monday as Egypt continued on a turbulent transition, and as U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns prepared to hold meetings with Egypt's interim government officials and civil society and business leaders.

Burns, who began a two-day visit to Egypt on Sunday, will "underscore U.S. support for the Egyptian people, an end to all violence, and a transition leading to an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government," the State Department said in a statement.

He is the first senior U.S. official to visit Egypt since Morsi's overthrow.

The embassy on Sunday warned that there is still possibility for protests near its grounds and that U.S. citizens should avoid areas that may host large gatherings.

"Even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence," the embassy said in a security message on its website. "U.S. citizens in Egypt are urged to monitor local news reports and to plan their activities accordingly."

On June 28, the State Department advised U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Egypt due to the ongoing potential for social and political unrest. After Morsi's overthrow on July 3, the U.S. ordered mandatory evacuation of non-essential embassy staff and their families.

Since Egypt's uprising against Hosni Mubarak in early 2011, protests have led to clashes between demonstrators and security forces, and earlier this month to violence between Morsi's supporters and opponents, killing dozens nationwide. On June 28, Andrew Pochter, a 21-year-old American, was killed in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria after he was stabbed during clashes between opposing demonstrators.

Some protests, particularly those in Tahrir Square, have also seen brutal and numerous cases of mob sexual assault and rape within the mass gatherings.

As protests swelled in recent weeks, anti-American sentiment ran particularly high on both sides of Egypt's political divide. Anti-Morsi protesters believe Washington supported Morsi, who comes from the Muslim Brotherhood. They toted posters of President Obama and U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson with "X"s over their faces.

The opposing camp — Morsi's backers — think the U.S. should have done more to stop Egypt's military when, on July 3, they forced Morsi out and ushered in a transition plan that dissolved the legislature and suspended the constitution.

Authorities are holding Morsi in an undisclosed location, and numerous Brotherhood members and leaders have been subject to what seems to be a broadening crackdown on the group. On Sunday, Egypt's public prosecutor froze financial assets of senior Brotherhood leaders.

The Brotherhood rejects the nation's new transition plan, but interim leaders are moving forward to create an interim cabinet ahead of expected new parliamentary and presidential elections.