Libya's unity government told to leave Tripoli after arrival

Libya's unrecognised authorities in control of Tripoli on Wednesday demanded that the head of a UN-backed unity government Fayez al-Sarraj leave just hours after he arrived in the capital.

In a televised address, the head of the Tripoli government Khalifa Ghweil said Sarraj's government was "illegal", asking him to leave the capital or to "hand himself in".

Sarraj, who was named prime minister-designate in December under a UN-brokered power-sharing deal, arrived at a naval base in Tripoli Wednesday following growing international calls for Libya's rival political camps to unite behind his administration.

"Those who entered illegally and secretly must surrender or turn back," Ghweil said. "We won't leave Tripoli as long as we are not sure of the fate of our homeland."

Sources within the Libyan army controlled by the Tripoli authorities told The New Arab that a state of emergency had been declared since the arrival of Sarraj on Wednesday.

Even before Ghweil's news conference had ended, forces loyal to his government began deploying in the capital and closing major roads.

Libya has had two rival administrations since mid-2014 when a militia alliance overran the capital, setting up its own authority and forcing the internationally recognised parliament to flee to the country's remote east.