France is slashing the number of visas issued to people from Algeria, Libya, and Morocco.

A government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, told Europe 1 radio that it was a drastic and unprecedented decision, made necessary by the refusal of the North African countries to take back nationals that France doesn’t want and can't keep.

He said “there was dialogue, then there were threats, and today we're carrying out those threats".

Immigration is likely to be a key issue in next year’s presidential election.

President Emmanuel Macron is widely expected to face off again against the anti-immigration far-right leader, Marine Le Pen.