World powers demand halt to Libya advance

Libyan forces under General Khalifa Haftar battled their way to the south of Tripoli on Friday, prompting the UN Security Council and the G7 to demand a halt to the military advance on the capital.

Haftar, commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an offensive on Thursday to take the capital, held by a UN-backed unity government and an array of militias.

The lightning assault was ordered as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was in Libya for a visit aimed at cementing a political deal on holding elections.

After meeting with Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi, Guterres said he was leaving "Libya with a deep concern and a heavy heart" and voiced hope that a "bloody confrontation" could be avoided.

Shortly afterward, LNA forces clashed with a pro-government alliance less than 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the capital, a unity government source said.

Haftar's press office confirmed there had been "violent fighting on the edge of Tripoli with armed militias".

After a closed-door emergency meeting in New York, the Security Council called on Haftar's forces to halt their advance and warned that those responsible for re-igniting the conflict will be held responsible.

The appeal for Haftar to halt his offensive was unanimously backed by the council, including Russia, which has supported the strongman.

The council "called on LNA forces to halt all military movements" and "on all forces to de-escalate military activity," said German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, who holds the council presidency.

UN envoy Ghassan Salame told the council that Haftar made clear to Guterres during the Benghazi meeting that he had no intention of halting his campaign, diplomats said.

G7 foreign ministers meeting in the French resort town of Dinard urged an immediate halt to "all military activity and movements toward Tripoli," warning that civilians were in danger.

LNA forces briefly took over the ruins of a destroyed airport but were driven out by fighters from the capital, government interior minister Fathi Bachagha told Libya's Al-Ahrar television station.

"The fighting is currently taking place in the Gasr Ben Ghechir region" south of the airport, he said.

Earlier in the day, LNA forces were pushed back from a key checkpoint less than 30 kilometers from the capital, checking their offensive.

The head of the UN-backed unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited the checkpoint on Friday accompanied by military commanders.

Since former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was forced from power in 2011, Libya's conflict has mainly fallen along the lines of UN-backed Government of National Accord and the Tobruk government, backed by Libyan National Army. Haftar returned to Libya from the U.S. after Gadaffi was overthrown and became the leader of Libyan National Army in 2014.

(CGTN)