France in diplomatic row as Algeria expels 12 French officials

France may be having diplomatic with Algeria as the North African country, on Monday, expelled and ordered 12 French officials to leave Algeria within 48 hours.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot was cited to have said that the action was a response to the arrest of three Algerian citizens in France.

Jean-Noel Barrot had also threatened: “I am asking Algerian authorities to abandon these expulsion measures.

“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.

Meanwhile, French diplomatic sources said that “contacts are being maintained” and that Paris would like to “return to an easing of tensions” with Algeria.