Relations between Algeria and the military alliance of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have plunged to historic lows as the two sides curtail diplomatic ties in a spat over a downed drone last week.

Algeria said Tuesday it shot down a military drone near the country's border with Mali in the first incident of its kind during growing tensions between the two countries governing a vast portion of the Sahara.

Mali's Security Minister Gen Daoud Aly Mohammedine on Sunday described the shooting of the drone as the "result of premeditated hostile action" Algeria and Mali have each closed their airspace to flights from the other country,