Tensions flared between France and Algeria on Monday after the former French colony ordered 12 French officials to leave in 48 hours.
Algeria’s foreign ministry said it had declared the 12 persona non grata after the arrest in France of an Algerian consular official, a “vile act” it blamed on French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
It defended the decision as “sovereign” and described the arrest of its official as “the consequence of the negative, distressing and constant attitude of the French minister of the interior toward Algeria”.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had earlier said the expulsion orders were linked to the arrest of three Algerian nationals in France.
“I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures,” Barrot said, adding: “If the decision to send back our officials is maintained, we will have no other choice but to respond immediately.”
The 12 include some members of the French interior ministry, a diplomatic source told AFP.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/france-algeria-diplomatic-row-escalates-as-algiers-expels-12-french-officials-13879966.html.
