Tripoli campaign will continue

136

Eastern Libyan forces will pursue their advance on Tripoli, the head of the eastern parliament in the divided country said, despite international calls for a halt in the offensive.

His comments follow an eastern air strike on a school, where eastern forces were confronted by forces allied to Prime Minister Fayez al-Serrajā€™s internationally recognised government.

In a possible new front, the eastern Libya National Army (LNA) was readying a unit to move to Ā Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil ports, Libyaā€™s biggest, anticipating an attack from an armed group allied to Serraj, eastern military officials said.

ā€œThe force will strengthen protection of the ports,ā€ one official said.

Last week the European Union called on the LNA to stop its attacks, agreeing on a statement after France and Italy sparred over the conflict.

The eastern parliament head said they would press an offensive launched under military commander Khalifa Haftar.

ā€œWe need to get rid of militias and terrorist groups,ā€ Aguila Saleh, head of the House of Representatives allied to Haftar, said using a reference eastern officials make to describe forces allied to the Tripoli government, which relies on support from several armed groups.

ā€œWe assure residents of Tripoli the campaign to liberate Tripoli will be limited and not violate any freedoms but restore security and fight terrorism,ā€ Saleh told lawmakers in a session in Benghazi.

For its part the Tripoli government will agree to a ceasefire only if the LNA troops return east, government spokesman Mohanad Younes told reporters.

Forces loyal to al-Serrajā€™s government have so far kept the eastern offensive at bay. Fierce fighting has broken out around a disused former airport about 11km from the city centre.

An eastern military source saidĀ an LNA warplane attacked a military camp in an eastern Tripoli suburb.

In a separate strike the yard of a primary school was hit, a Reuters reporter at the scene said. A LNA official said the plane targeted a camp of Serrajā€™s forces.

Saleh said the United Nations mission to Libya and Serrajā€™s government was controlled by armed groups and failed to expel them. He promised Libya would hold long-delayed elections after the Tripoli operation ends.

Haftarā€™s offensive surprised the United Nations, which was planning a national conference on April 14 to prepare Libya for elections.