Turkey Declares Egyptian Envoy Persona Non-Grata

Earlier on Saturday, Egypt expelled Turkey's Ambassador, explaining the step with recent remarks of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan criticizing Egyptian authorities and the country's internal affairs. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Turkey declared the Egyptian Ambassador persona non-grata on Saturday in response to Cairo's decision to expel the Turkish Ambassador earlier the same day.

Egypt's ambassador, Abderahman Salah El-Din, who had not resided in Ankara since August, was asked to leave the country and the bilateral relations were downgraded to the level of charge d'affaires.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it was taking steps in line with the principle of "reciprocity," according to reports of CNN.

Earlier on Saturday, Egypt expelled Turkey's Ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali, explaining the step with recent remarks of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan criticizing Egyptian authorities and  the country's internal affairs.

The relations between the two countries have been strained since July, when the Egyptian army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

On August 14, at least 627 people were killed in Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya square when security forces broke up a sit-in of Morsi's supporters.

On the day after the bloody crackdown, Cairo and Ankara announced they were recalling their respective ambassadors for consultations.

Egypt never returned Ambassador Abderahman Salah El-Din to Ankara, though Turkey's envoy returned to Cairo weeks later.

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