TRIPOLI, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj on Saturday denied involvement of "terrorists" in fighting with his forces in the capital Tripoli against the eastern-based army.
"We call for caution against campaigns of disinformation by some parties, the latest of which is the claim that there are terrorists fighting among our troops, which we strongly deny," Serraj said in a statement.
The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign against Serraj's government in the capital Tripoli since earlier this month, with army spokesman Ahmad al-Mismari warning of "increased involvement of foreign fighters fighting with the armed militias (government forces)."
"The Government of National Accord was, and is still, fighting terrorism and pursuing terrorist remnants. The government has achieved impressive victories over terrorism," the statement said.
The recent attack on the capital and other cities "encourages and opens the way for terrorist cells to activate," it said.
The European Union on Friday expressed concern about "the involvement of terrorist and criminal elements in the fighting, including individuals listed by the United Nations Security Council," calling all Libyan parties to "dissociate themselves from these elements, both publicly and on the ground."
The army, led by Khalifa Haftar, is allied with the eastern-based government. The politically divided country has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos, ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
