France on Tuesday ordered the expulsion of 12 Algerian diplomats and consular officials and recalled its ambassador in the latest escalation between the two countries.

The measure, announced by President Emmanuel Macron's office, came after Algeria on Sunday ordered 12 French officials to leave within 48 hours in response to the arrest of an Algerian official in France.
The Algerian officials in France have also been given 48 hours to leave.

Macron's office called Algeria's actions "incomprehensible and unjustified" and said Algiers should "resume dialogue" and "take responsibility for the degradation in bilateral relations".

Algeria's foreign ministry said it had declared the 12 persona non grata after the arrest in France of an Algerian consular official last week, which it called a "vile act".

It has accused France's hardline Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau of wrecking the efforts to repair ties.
Commenting on the diplomatic crisis with Algeria, Bruno Retailleau told Cnews on Tuesday that it was ‘unacceptable, truly unacceptable that France should be a playground for Algerian services’.

The minister also considered that Elyse’s response to the dismissal of twelve agents serving in the Algerian consular and diplomatic network in France’, following the dismissal of twelve French civil servants from the Ministry of the Interior by the Algerian authorities, 'seemed totally appropriate’.