TRIPOLI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th April, 2019) Libyan conflicting sides have refused to follow the UN request to organize a two-hour ceasefire for evacuation of those injured during the armed clashes in Tripoli, a spokesman for the local ambulance service Osama Ali told Sputnik.
Earlier in the day, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) demanded from the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez Sarraj, to organize a two-hour humanitarian truce between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time for evacuation of those injured during the LNA operation in Tripoli.
"The conflicting sides did not adhere to the humanitarian pause requested by the United Nations," Ali said.
The situation in Libya escalated on Thursday after Haftar ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli. The LNA has captured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, while the GNA's Sarraj has ordered his troops to use force if necessary.
On Sunday, a spokesman for the army loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive against the advancing troops of Haftar. The multi-pronged operation, dubbed Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage), has already led to the capture of many military vehicles of Haftar's LNA. At least 21 people died and 27 others were wounded on Sunday in the armed clashes on the outskirts of Tripoli, according to the Health Ministry of the GNA.
