Demonstrators head towards the German radio station Deutch Well outside the city of Kigali, Rwanda, 10 Nov 2008

Germany has recalled its ambassador from Rwanda, amid a dispute over the arrest of a top Rwandan presidential aide in Germany.

The Rwandan government requested the expulsion Tuesday, saying it had to take place within 48 hours.

The Kigali government also said it is calling back its own ambassador from Berlin for consultations.

The dispute concerns Sunday's arrest in Germany of Rwandan official Rose Kabuye on an international arrest warrant.  French investigators suspect her of involvement in the 1994 downing of a plane that killed then-Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana.  That incident set off the Rwandan genocide.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in Germany attending a business conference, visited Kabuye in jail today.  He said her detention violates Rwanda's sovereignty and puts in doubt his country's cooperation with the European Union.

The president also said Kabuye should not have been arrested because she has diplomatic immunity.  However, a German prosecutor said she was arrested because she was on private business.

The African Union has also expressed concern.  The French news agency quotes a statement from the AU as saying Kabuye was on a diplomatic mission and should not have been arrested.

German government officials have said Kabuye's extradition to France could take place within days.

Rwanda's government says the French probe is politically motivated.  It broke off ties with France in 2006.  Rwanda has been preparing its own case against French officials it alleges were behind some of the Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 killings.

Germany has recalled its ambassador from Rwanda, amid a dispute over the arrest of a top Rwandan presidential aide in Germany.

The Rwandan government requested the expulsion Tuesday, saying it had to take place within 48 hours.

The Kigali government also said it is calling back its own ambassador from Berlin for consultations.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame during a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany, 11 Nov 2008

The dispute concerns Sunday's arrest in Germany of Rwandan official Rose Kabuye on an international arrest warrant.  French investigators suspect her of involvement in the 1994 downing of a plane that killed then-Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana.  That incident set off the Rwandan genocide.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in Germany attending a business conference, visited Kabuye in jail today.  He said her detention violates Rwanda's sovereignty and puts in doubt his country's cooperation with the European Union.

The president also said Kabuye should not have been arrested because she has diplomatic immunity.  However, a German prosecutor said she was arrested because she was on private business.

The African Union has also expressed concern.  The French news agency quotes a statement from the AU as saying Kabuye was on a diplomatic mission and should not have been arrested.

German government officials have said Kabuye's extradition to France could take place within days.

Rwanda's government says the French probe is politically motivated.  It broke off ties with France in 2006.  Rwanda has been preparing its own case against French officials it alleges were behind some of the Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 killings.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.