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The leader of the forces in eastern Libya ordered them to march on the capital Tripoli, the internationally recognized government base. The order of Khalifa Haftar to the so-called Libyan National Army came while the head of the UN, Antonio Guterres, was in Tripoli.
Armed groups in the western city of Misrata, who support the government, have promised to stop any progress. Libya has been torn apart by violence and division since longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.
What was the reaction?
Mr. Guterres, the United States and the European nations have all called for calm. Addressing reporters in Tripoli, Mr Guterres said he was making a "powerful call to stop … climbing."
The UN Security Council will meet Friday to discuss the situation following a request from the United Kingdom, reports said. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement calling for calm.
"At this sensitive moment of transition in Libya, military positions and unilateral threats of action risk only bringing Libya back to chaos," the statement issued by the US State Department said.
"We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the Libyan conflict," added the governments. The UN had planned to hold a conference in Libya later this month to discuss the resolution of the long-running crisis in the country.
What is happening on the ground?
After the announcement of General Haftar, his forces moved to the capital from several directions, said one of his spokesmen. According to contradictory reports, General Haftar's forces entered the city of Gharyan, 100 km south of Tripoli.
The Libyan National Army (LNA) said they have secured Gharyan and moved on. However, two of his soldiers were reportedly injured during clashes in the surrounding area. A Gharyan official told AFP that there were "ongoing efforts to avoid a clash" between rival fighters in the city.
The UN-backed Tripoli government said it had put its forces on high alert. Residents of Misrata said that armed groups in the city had begun to move to the Libyan capital, Reuters reported.
The offensive comes after General Haftar's forces seized parts of the south of the country earlier in the year.
Who is General Haftar?
A former army officer, he helped Colonel Gaddafi seize power in 1969 before he became embroiled with him and exiled to the United States. He returned in 2011 after the start of the uprising against Gaddafi and became a rebel commander.
In December, General Haftar met with Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj, of the UN-backed government, at a conference, but declined to attend official talks.
General Haftar has received support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, who regard him as a tough on Islamists. He visited Saudi Arabia last week, where he met King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks.
Credit: BBC
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