Fayez al-Sarraj accused General Khalifa Haftar of launching a coup in a televised address. He said, however, that General Khalifa Haftar’s troops will have to deal with “strength and power”.

Fayez al-Sarraj, born in 1943, the former army officer assisted Colonel Muammar Gaddafi gain power in 1969. He later fell out with Gaddafi and went on an exile in the US. He returned in 2011 after the uprising against Gaddafi began and became a rebel commander.

The rebels are on the outskirts of Tripoli and say they have seized Tripoli’s international airport. Tripoli is the base of the UN-backed, internationally recognised government.

In a multi-pronged attack, from the west of the city, and likewise the south, rebel forces are currently advancing on Tripoli although they have reportedly been slowed by pro-government fighters.

Earlier this year, the Libyan National Army (LNA) headed by Gen Haftar, seized the south of Libya and its oil fields.

Since Muammar Gaddafi was killed and deposed 8 years ago, Libya has been filled with violence and political instability.

On Thursday, Gen Haftar ordered his forces to advance on Tripoli as General Antonio Guterres — UN Secretary General was in Tripolil to discuss the crisis.

Gen Haftar spoke to Mr Guterres in Benghazi on Friday, and told him that he will not put his operations on a halt until his troops had conquered “terrorism”.

While Gen Haftar declared a coup, PM al-Sarraj said his government has “extended our hands towards peace.”

Forces have been ordered “to deal with the threat of those striving to destabilize and intimidate civilians”, he said, adding those responsible will be brought to justice.

While the UN also issued a similar call, The G7 group of rich countries has urged all parties to “immediately halt all military activity.”

The leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, has ordered the advance on Tripoli.

This came after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was in the city to discuss the ongoing crisis. And, “Until our troops have defeated terrorism, our operations will not stop,” Gen Haftar said to Mr Guterres in Benghazi.

Khalifa Haftar was a former army officer that helped Colonel Muammar Gadaffi seize power back in 1969 before going out into exile in the US as he fell out with Gadaffi. And just after the uprising against Gadaffi began, he came back as a rebel commander.

Recent reports suggest that near the International airport to the south of Libya, fighting is currently going on. The airport having already been closed since 2014 – although it is disputed.

Mr Guterres said in a tweet that he left Libya “with a heavy heart and deeply concerned,” saying that he hoped there was a workaround to the issue rather than battle it out at the capital.

However, The G7 later responded to the fighting with a statement urging an end to military operations, “We strongly oppose any military action in Libya, reiterating our support for UN-led efforts to bring elections and calling on all countries to support the sustainable stabilization of Libya.”

It is still very unclear how much this is a genuine effort to seize Tripoli or just a show of force from Gen Haftar’s position.