According to a French diplomatic source cited by AFP, the two Malian officials - representing the embassy and consulate in Paris - have each been declared persona non grata and instructed to depart France by Saturday. The source also warned that "other measures" could follow if the detained French national is not released promptly. The dispute stems from the August 15 arrest of a staff member at the French embassy in Bamako. According to Malian Security Minister Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Vezilier was among a "small group of marginal elements" in the Malian army. Relations between France and Mali have sharply deteriorated in recent years.