The Libyan foreign minister has fled to Turkey out of fear for her safety, Libyan officials said Monday, amid a growing uproar in Libya over news that she met with her Israeli counterpart in Rome last week. Libya’s internal security agency confirmed that the minister, Najla el-Mangoush, had left the country, saying in a statement on Facebook that it had not helped her do so. Two foreign ministry officials, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Ms. el-Mangoush had flown to Turkey because of safety concerns. The prime minister of Libya’s internationally recognized government, Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, announced on Facebook on Sunday night that he was temporarily suspending Ms. el-Mangoush and launching an investigation into the matter. The Libyan foreign ministry said that the encounter with the Israeli foreign minister in Rome last week was “informal and unplanned,” and that in the meeting Ms. el-Mangoush had reaffirmed Libyan support for the Palestinians.

Source: Libya Today August 28, 2023 10:24 UTC