Egypt denies inviting Israel's Lieberman to visit

Egypt's foreign ministry denied on Thursday that Israel's firebrand Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has been invited to visit Egypt, despite Israeli claims to the contrary.

"This news is devoid of truth," a ministry statement said of an Israeli foreign ministry claim that Lieberman had been invited to Egypt during a visit to Jerusalem on Wednesday by Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.

"The Egyptian intelligence chief only extended an invitation to the head of the Israeli government to visit Egypt at a time which will soon be agreed," it said, referring to hawkish new Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

First Published: Apr 23, 2009 19:36 IST