PARIS - The French Foreign Ministry announced Friday in a statement that 14 former diplomats of Libya were not welcomed and demanded their deportation in 24-48 hours.

In a brief statement issued by a ministry spokesman, the 14 diplomats working for Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi's regime were announced as "personna non grata."

They had been working for the Libya embassy in France which was closed around a month ago. France has recognized Libyan opposition, led by the National Transition Council, as the only legitimate representative of Libya.

The statement asked the diplomats to leave France within 48 hours.