UN: Fighting near Tripoli killed 376 people in April

At least 376 people were killed last month in fighting near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on Wednesday.

The United Nations agency called for an immediate ceasefire, saying that the fighting had also left 1,822 injured.

On 4 April, military strongman Khalifa Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) to capture Tripoli, the seat of the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), led by his rival Fayez Serraj.

Haftar is linked to the parliament in the east of the country, which acts as a rival government.

Some 42,000 people have fled since the fighting started.

Haftar's offensive has raised fears of a worsening conflict in oil-rich Libya, where long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in a 2011 NATO-backed revolt.

He launched a campaign against Islamist militants in eastern Libya in 2014 and has expanded his foothold to the south-west of the country in recent months before ordering his forces to move to Tripoli.

"We might be at the final stage of this war," LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari told a press briefing on Wednesday. "Liberating Libya from terrorists means that the Arab Maghreb area will be free from terrorism," he added.

Al-Mismari said the LNA is fighting "traitors, the Muslim Brotherhood, Daesh and al-Qaida" in Tripoli, reiterating statements by Haftar loyalists that his campaign targets armed militias and "terrorists".    (dpa)