Tanks on the streets in Libya as leader warns of ‘coup d’etat’

FIGHTING in Tripoli intensified drastically yesterday as rival armies brought tanks and multiple rocket-launch systems to bear in the deadly struggle for control of the Libyan capital.

The escalation came as Fayez alsarraj, the prime minister of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, addressed the nation and urged Libyans to defend the capital from renegade general Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army.

Mr Serraj accused Gen Haftar of sabotaging months of painstaking peace negotiations and said he would resist the general’s “coup d’état” with “firmness and strength”.

“We have extended our hand of peace, yet forces of Haftar have declared war on our cities and capital,” he said. “Accordingly we have issued our instructions and announced the state of general mobilisation for all Libyan armed forces and security services.”

In an apparent swipe at Gen Haftar’s foreign backers, he added: “A final word for the countries that support the conflict between Libyans: fear Allah, stop interfering in our affairs and lift your hands off my country.”

Gen Haftar, who backs a rival administration based in the east of the country, announced an assault on Tripoli last week. The move sparked several days of skirmishes and saw both sides launch sporadic airstrikes.

The United Nations estimates that 4,500 people have been displaced and dozens killed. Residents said the fighting escalated dramatically by Tuesday.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, said he was “deeply concerned” about the violence and called on all sides to cease fighting.