Egypt to scale back ties with Turkey, expel ambassador, over 'interference'

CAIRO – Egypt's Foreign Ministry says the Turkish ambassador to Cairo has been considered persona non grata and will be ordered to leave the country because of Turkey's continued "interference" in Egyptian internal affairs.

A statement issued by the ministry's spokesman Saturday said the government has decided to lower diplomatic representation to the level of charge d'affaires. It said Egypt has already transferred its own ambassador to Turkey to Cairo.

Egypt has denounced Turkish criticism of the Egyptian military's overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.