CAIRO: The Suez Canal was closed on Sunday to large ships because of bad weather in the country, an official in the Suez Canal Authority said.

The official said three ships seeking to cross to the Red Sea were denied permission to do so.

Bad weather forced Egypt to close seven ports on the Red and Mediterranean Seas on Sunday.

The ports of Hurghada and Safaga on the Red Sea, however, were reopened on Sunday after weather conditions improved, the official Middle East News Agency reported, citing officials at both ports.