This was the second such attempt by Fathi Bashagha loyalists to get hold of capital Tripoli since he was elected by the Libyan parliament in February as prime minister.

Though the UN had initially supported the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by interim prime minister Abdul Hamied Dbeibah, the special advisor on Libya to the UN secretary general, Stephanie Williams, has now refused to take sides and has called for talks

The ICC has reiterated calls by the United Nations last week urging Libyan armed factions and foreign fighters to free people that are being illegally detained in the country’s official and unofficial detention centers