France, May 14 -- France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to the removal of French officials from Algiers, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced on Wednesday.

The move follows Algeria's decision to send home French personnel who were posted in the country on temporary assignments. Speaking to BFMTV, Barrot described their expulsion as "unjustified and unjustifiable".

"Our response is immediate, it is firm and it is strictly proportionate at this stage," he said. "We are asking for the return to Algeria of all agents holding diplomatic passports who currently do not have a visa."

Barrot did not say how many Algerian diplomats would be affected.

France faces pressure at home to admit 1945 colonial massacre of AlgeriansCha...