Asmara, Eritrea - Eritrea on Monday said it had not renewed the residence permits of 13 Roman Catholic missionaries but denied allegations they were being expelled.
Catholic news websites last week claimed that the group, which includes priests, nuns and teachers from several countries including Italy, Mexico, Kenya and the Philippines, were given a two-week deadline to leave.
Yemane Gebremeskel, the director of Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki's office, told AFP: "It is purely a routine immigration issue.
"These are people who do not have valid residence permits anymore. If you live somewhere and your residence permit has expired, and it is not renewed, then it is not renewed."
Roman Catholicism has been present in Eritrea for more than a century, and believers are estimated to make up nearly five per cent of the population.
On Friday, the Vatican's new ambassador to Asmara presented his credentials to the Eritrean president.
Religion is a particularly sensitive topic in Eritrea, where the government wants national unity among its 4.2 million population, officially split equally between Islam and Christianity.
The government officially recognizes four religious denominations: Islam, Orthodox Coptic Christianity, Roman Catholicism and the Eritrean Evangelical Church.
Under a decree issued in May 2002, other groups are permitted to worship but must first register with authorities in Asmara.
Human rights groups regularly accuse the Eritrean authorities of religious persecution, particularly against unregistered evangelical Christian congregations.
Asmara denies the reports, but says it will not tolerate outside influences on religious matters, accusing groups recently established in the country of having "other political agendas".