UN warns of civil war in Libya as rogue general closes on capital

Rebel troops take airport on outskirts of Tripoli after secretary general holds talks in bid to avert conflict

LIBYA could be plunged into a “bloody confrontation”, the United Nations secretary general warned yesterday, after he met with the renegade general who has ordered his troops to advance on Tripoli, the capital.

Last night, Gen Khalifa Haftar’s forces took control of the former international airport on the city’s outskirts, though the advance was earlier stalled by the capture of about 140 men.

“I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation” António Guterres said after meeting with Gen Haftar in Benghazi.

“The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people,” the secretary general added.

Mr Guterres flew to eastern Libya to attempt to avert a battle that could reignite a simmering civil conflict.

Gen Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army to seize control of Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on Thursday afternoon.

His decision was interpreted as a snub to UN efforts to resolve the conflict, with Mr Guterres in Tripoli at the time to discuss a national reconciliation conference with Fayez al-serraj, the prime minister of the GNA.

A source in Tripoli who asked not to be named described the atmosphere in the city as “calm but tense” yesterday.

Fighting appeared to have stalled after Gen Haftar’s forces suffered an embarrassing defeat on the outskirts of the city. About 140 men from a spearhead unit were taken prisoner at a checkpoint they had earlier overrun on a key junction 15 miles from the capital.

Gen Haftar appeared to be counting on a largely bloodless operation and a significant defeat could cause wavering groups to rethink throwing in their lot with the general.

The UN Security Council was due to hold an emergency session last night.

Britain has said it opposed military action and would hold responsible any party that precipitated civil war, but avoided mentioning Gen Haftar.

“We strongly believe that there is no military solution to the Libya conflict,” the Foreign Office said in a joint statement issued with the France, Italy, the US and the United Arab Emirates.