TRIPOLI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army on Wednesday announced it would create a safe zone here for civilians during the holiday period, but was accused by its rival of failure to honor its word.
"In the last week of the holy month of Ramadan, it is customary to visit relatives and friends before Eid al-Fitr. As we desire to ease the people's suffering during this happy holiday and to give our people in Tripoli opportunity to observe customs and traditions, we have decided to withdraw forces from all front lines in Tripoli for a distance of 2-3 km," thus creating a tension-free zone, Ahmad al-Mismari, spokesman of the east-based army, said in a statement earlier Wednesday.
The army said the retreat would start at 12:00 p.m. (2200 GMT) Wednesday, and called on the UN-backed government forces to follow.
However, the UN-backed government accused the east-based army of launching a missile attack on a residential area in Tripoli shortly after the army's announcement.
The east-based army has been leading a military campaign for more than a year in and around Tripoli, in an attempt to take over the city.
The fighting has killed and injured hundreds of civilians and displaced more than 150,000 others. Enditem
