France threatens to deport Algerian diplomats back to their country.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced today, Wednesday, that France has summoned the Algerian ambassador in Paris and expressed its condemnation of the decision to expel French diplomats. Le Drian confirmed that Paris "will respond with a similar measure." He stated in an interview with the French television station "BFM" that "Algerians holding diplomatic passports without visas will be deported to Algeria." French news agency reported that "the individuals concerned are employees on temporary support missions, without specifying their number or when the expulsion decision will be implemented." Algerian authorities had demanded the Charge d'Affaires at the French Embassy in Algeria, during his reception last Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Algerian capital, to immediately deport all French employees appointed under conditions contrary to the applicable procedures.