Algeria expels 12 employees from the French embassy...Paris demands a reversal of the decision.

The Algerian authorities have requested 12 employees at the French embassy to leave Algerian territory within 48 hours, as announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday, stating that this decision was made in response to the arrest of three Algerians in France. Le Drian said in a press statement, "I demand that the Algerian authorities reconsider these measures, which have no relation to the ongoing legal procedures in France," adding that if "our employees are expelled, we will have no choice but to respond immediately." A diplomatic source informed Agence France-Presse that among the individuals Algeria intends to "expel" are employees from the Ministry of Interior. So far, there has been no confirmation from Algeria regarding the expulsion request.