The government told North Korea's ambassador to Tripoli that the decision to shut the offices was part of a restructuring of Libya's diplomatic presence overseas.

Malta's prime minister visited Tripoli on 23 June to discuss a possible oil supply agreement, as well as other issues including visas and maritime borders.

Illicit imports to Libya of subsidised Tunisian foodstuffs, especially milk, are reported to be a major cause of food price inflation in Tunisia.

The two countries have signed an agreement which aims to facilitate bilateral goods trade and improve customs procedures, as well as remove a restriction on car imports.

Non-oil exports from Iran to Libya totalled $4.7m (LD5.9m) last year, according to Iranian figures.

Record-high oil exports meant Libya recorded a trade surplus of LD45.2bn ($36.2bn) last year, although annual imports also reached a new all-time high.

Tunisian exports to Libya rose strongly to reach a record TND1.3bn (LD987m) in 2012 as demand recovered after the 2011 conflict.

French exports to Libya reached €205m (LD340m) in the first three months of 2013, a steady improvement on the same period last year.

Representatives of several member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have met businesspeople in Benghazi to discuss greater economic and trade cooperation.

The value of UK goods exports to Libya reached £60.6m (LD121m) in the first three months of 2013, slightly down on the previous quarter.

Turkish exports to Libya rose by 34% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2013, continuing their strong upward trend since the end of the 2011 conflict.

Officials from the Tunisian and Libyan export promotion bodies met this week in Tripoli to discuss cooperation and coordination between the two countries.

The main border crossing between Libya and Tunisia reopened on 30 March after a short closure caused by a security incident.

Egyptian residents from Salloum, a town close to the Libyan border, have reportedly blocked the main road between the two countries in protest at new visa rules introduced by Tripoli.

Tunisia has closed the Wazen-Dahiba border with Libya after a clash with smugglers on 10 March which left one Tunisian soldier dead.