CAIRO — Egypt announced on Saturday that it was downgrading its diplomatic relations with Turkey and expelled the Turkish ambassador because of “provocative” criticisms of Cairo by Turkey’s prime minister, a spokesman for Egypt’s foreign minister said.

Egypt also said its ambassador to Turkey, who was withdrawn in August, would be permanently recalled, all but severing relations with a regional heavyweight that had been one of Egypt’s most prominent allies before the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in July.

In retaliation, Turkey declared the absent Egyptian ambassador “persona non grata” and also downgraded diplomatic relations. Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was unapologetic, calling Egypt’s government a “pro-coup administration” and saying, “We never respect those who do not respect people’s right to sovereignty.”

Ties between the countries had been fraying for months. Mr. Erdogan had cultivated a strong relationship with Mr. Morsi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, as part of Mr. Erdogan’s wider bid for regional leadership.