Libyan Foreign Minister Suspended Over Talks with Israel

Libya's prime minister suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush on Sunday and referred her for investigation after Israel said its Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had met her last week despite the countries not having formal relations.

Libya's Foreign Ministry said Mangoush had rejected a meeting with representatives of Israel and that what had occurred was "an unprepared, casual encounter during a meeting at Italy's Foreign Affairs Ministry."

"I spoke with the foreign minister about the great potential for the two countries from their relations," Israel's Cohen said in a statement.

Cohen said he had spoken to Mangoush about the importance of preserving Jewish heritage in Libya.