Algeria has instructed 12 French embassy officials to leave the country, authorities in Paris said on Monday.
The background is a dispute over the arrest of three Algerians in France on serious charges, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
“The Algerian authorities are asking 12 of our officials to leave Algerian territory within 48 hours,” Barrot told the TF1 news channel.
“This decision would be a reaction to the arrest of three Algerian citizens suspected of having committed serious criminal offences on French territory,” he said, urging Algiers to refrain from the expulsions.
If the decision to expel the French officials is upheld, “we will have no choice but to react immediately,” emphasized Barrot.
On Friday, three Algerians were arrested in France for allegedly attempting to kidnap an Algerian influencer who was critical of his government.
An employee of the Algerian consulate in Créteil near Paris is said to be among those arrested.
The dispute between Paris and Algiers comes after recent efforts to normalize their strained relations, including a visit to Algeria by Barrot a week ago.
The French Foreign Ministry said this would be the first expulsion of French diplomats from Algeria since the North African country gained independence in 1962.
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