RIYADH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Monday ordered the Canadian ambassador to leave the kingdom within 24 hours and said it was recalling its ambassador to Canada following Canada's criticism of its recent arrest of women's right activists, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dennis Horak, was persona non grata and must leave the country within 24 hours.

It said the Saudi Ambassador to Canada, Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, would be recalled and the kingdom would freeze all new business and investment transactions with Canada while retaining its right to take further action.

The announcement came after Canada's Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland and other diplomats criticized Saudi Arabia's recent arrest of women's right activists and asked for their immediate release.

The Saudi authorities said the comments were unfounded since the arrests were made in accordance with the law. They also called Canada's criticism an interference in Saudi Arabia's domestic affairs.