Algerian authorities expel AFP bureau chief

Vincenot, 45, who has been in post in Algiers since June 2017, had to depart the country after his residency permit ran out and a final police deadline to leave expired.

Fabrice Fries, chairman of AFP, condemned his expulsion as "unacceptable".

Vincenot's expulsion comes amid political tensions in Algeria and weeks of unprecedented protests, which forced president Abdelaziz Bouteflika first to abandon his hopes of running for a fifth term and then to resign on April 2.

First launched on February 22, and fuelled mainly by the country's burgeoning youth, the huge protest movement is continuing despite the resignation of the long-time leader.

Apart from seeking the departure of Bouteflika and his entourage, demonstrators are demanding the dismantling of Algeria's whole political system, which has ruled the country since independence from France in 1962.

"This decision taken under the presidency of Bouteflika is unacceptable and it is out of the question for us, in these circumstances, to appoint a successor for the time being," said Fries, in a statement.

"By depriving us of our bureau chief, this decision seriously affects our presence in Algeria, which is there to provide exhaustive and rigorous coverage of the historic events that are currently underway," said Fries.

Vincenot's residency permit expired on February 28 and he had been left without press accreditation since the end of 2018.

His request to renew his press card for 2019, which is a key requirement in order to obtain a residency permit, received no response from the Algerian authorities, despite AFP's best efforts to obtain an explanation.

AFP is one of the world's leading news agencies, covering the news across the world 24 hours a day in text, video, photo and graphics in six languages. It is present in 151 countries, and it has had a bureau in Algeria since 1962.

In its last report on press freedom, Reporters without Borders ranked Algeria in 136th place out of 180 countries.