Algeria has withdrawn its last diplomatic staff out of Baghdad following the kidnap last week of two of its envoys.
"I can confirm that there are no longer any Algerian diplomats in Baghdad. They have left along with the family of the kidnapped diplomat (Ali Belaroussi)," Abdelkader Messahel, Minister in charge of African Affairs, told reporters.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman said only one embassy attache remained after mission chief Belaroussi and attache Azzedine Belkadi were snatched by gunmen in Baghdad on Thursday. Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility.
A series of attacks on foreign missions have driven diplomats from the Iraqi capital and hurt the U.S.-backed government's bid for better ties with Arab states.