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Monday 23 March 2009

Egypt threatens to ignore new Israeli foreign minister

Egypt may refuse to work with Avigdor Lieberman, the ultranationalist politician expected to be named as Israel's next foreign minister.

The country's leaders are demanding he apologise for comments last year in which he told president Hosni Mubarak to "go to hell".

Mr Lieberman has been selected by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister designate to be the next foreign minister although his appointment depends on the outcome of coalition negotiations.

But the move has angered Egypt which remains angry at comments made last year to the Israeli parliament when he said, "Mubarak never agreed to come here as president. He wants to talk to us? Let him come here. He doesn't want to talk to us? He can go to hell." More