Qatar slams 'hypocritical' UAE support for Libya rogue general

Qatar has accused regional rival the United Arab Emirates of hypocrisy for condemning a military offensive on the Libyan capital led by a rogue general backed by Abu Dhabi.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Lolwah al-Khater made the statements to Al Jazeera on Thursday, after Khalifa Haftar announced an advance to seize the capital Tripoli.

"The UAE is actively supporting Haftar's forces on the ground. Are they trying to throw dust in our eyes?" Khater said.

"If this is the case, we call on the UAE's partner states to urge Abu Dhabi to end this doublespeak and match its rhetoric with its actions on the ground," she added.

The UAE said in a statement on Thursday along with Western countries that it was "deeply concerned" over Haftar's offensive on the capital Tripoli, the seat of the country's internationally-recognised unity government.

Haftar held talks in Riyadh late last month and his forces have received major arms deliveries from the UAE, including aircraft, despite a UN embargo.

The general, who is backed by Egypt and Gulf Arab nations such as the UAE, is allied with the east-based administration at odds with the UN-backed government based in Tripoli.

Forces loyal to the UN-backed government captured dozens of pro-Haftar troops on Friday, pushing back the attempt to take over the capital.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led bloc of countries that cut ties with Qatar in 2017 over allegations of support for extremists and Iran.

Qatar denies the allegations and says its rivals want Doha to fall in line with the bloc's policies.