Protests have erupted in Libya after Israel said its foreign minister had met with his Libyan counterpart despite the two countries having no formal diplomatic links.

Libyan media reported this on Monday.

Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibeh suspended foreign minister Najla Mangoush after she met with Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, news portal al-Wasat Gate reported.

Meanwhile, the Libyan foreign ministry denied Ms Mangoush had held formal talks with Mr Cohen and said the meeting in Rome was a casual, non-official, and previously unprepared meeting.

In an online statement, the ministry said it fully and categorically rejected any normalisation of relations with Israel.

Under a 1957 Libyan law, dealing with Israel is punishable by law, by up to nine years in prison.

The Libyan news site Al-Wasat reported on Monday, citing security circles that the foreign minister had meanwhile flown to Turkey on a government plane.

The source added that the minister left the airport with the help of the Internal Security Agency.

The parliament based in eastern Libya called for an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss what it termed as the “legal and ethical crime against the Libyan people,’’ referring to the reported encounter.

Protesters reportedly set fire to the residence of Mr Dbeibeh and called for his resignation on Sunday night.

It was not immediately clear if Mr Dbeibeh was at the residence.

Libya has been in turmoil since the overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi in 2011.

Countless militias are still fighting for power and influence in the oil-rich country.

The conflict is further fuelled by foreign governments.

Currently, two rival factions are fighting for power in Libya.

(dpa/NAN)