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Turkey declares Egypt's ambassador "persona non grata"

23 November 2013 19:23 (UTC +04:00)

The move comes few hours after Egypt expelled Turkey's ambassador in Cairo Huseyin Avni Botsali, declaring him "persona non grata."

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

"Following this development, in the framework of the reciprocity principle of international relations, Egypt's charge d 'affairs in our country was summoned to the foreign ministry and we notified him that relations are downgraded to level of charge d 'affairs," said the statement.

"We informed him that Egypt's ambassador to Ankara Abderahman Salaheldin, who has left Turkey for consultations, is declared as persona non grata," it added.

"The responsibility for this situation, which we are sorry for, belongs to the transitional government of Egypt," the statement said.

Turkey hopes to normalize the bilateral ties after Egypt regains "democracy and stability," the Turkish foreign ministry also said.

Egypt expelled the Turkish ambassador over remarks made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday which Cairo deemed as "provocative."

Erdogan criticized the Egyptian interim government and condemned the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Egypt considered these remarks as an affront to the will of the Egyptian people and an interference in its affairs.