Clashes in Tripoli as unity government threatens to report rivals to Interpol

Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister-designate Faiez Serraj has been warned by the Tripoli-based Islamist government to leave the capital or face arrest.

Serraj— who landed by sea in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday after opponents prevented them from flying in by closing down Tripoli's airspace - is slowly taking steps to consolidate his grip on power in a country already split between two rival governments, two parliaments, and militias in eastern and western Libya.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) is currently working from a heavily guarded naval base in Tripoli, where it has held a series of meetings with political supporters, council leaders, businessmen and central bank governor.

Amid threats issued by the Tripoli based government, there were reports of clashes between rival militias, with questions raised whether violence would erupt, or a peaceful transition of power would ensue.

On Thursday Serraj’s government threatened to send the names of 17 of the country's rival politicians, militia leaders and religious figures to the international police organization Interpol and the U.N. Security Council for "supporting terrorism" if they continue to "impede democratic transition."

The Tripoli-based government is led by Khalifa Ghweil and its source of power is a loose set of Islamist-led militias. The other government is based in the eastern city of Tobruk, made up of Libya's last elected House of Representatives and it is supported by army units led by strongman Khalifa Hifter, and eastern militias and tribes.

The two rival camps have created a power struggle and a security vacuum, enabling the extremist Islamic State group to find a foothold in Libya. The group has taken over the central city of Sirte and carried deadly attacks across the country.

Western powers hope the GNA will request and channel foreign support to confront the Islamic State, deal with migrant flows from Libya towards Europe, and restore oil production to shore up its economy.

But the Tripoli government Prime Minister Khalifa Ghweil issued, in an address few hours after Serraj’s bold arrival in the capital, warnings against the GNA which he called “illegal” while asking Serraj to leave or “hand himself in.”

Despite reports that Ghweil fled the capital and moved to Misrata, he said “those who entered illegally and secretly must surrender or turn back…We won’t leave Tripoli as long as we are not sure of the fate of our homeland.”

Shortly after his address, forces loyal to the self-declared government were deployed in Tripoli’s streets in a bid to prevent control of the city by rival forces who pledged allegiance to Serraj’s unity government.

However, a TV station supporting the Tripoli government went off the air late on Wednesday after reportedly being taken over by forces loyal to the GNA.

Following his arrival in Tripoli, Serraj has urged other factions to join him to heal divisions that have crippled the country since the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

“There are challenges ahead of us, including uniting Libyans and healing divisions,” Serraj said.

“We will work for a ceasefire across Libya, for national reconciliation and the return of displaced people, and we will seek to confront the Islamic State,” he added.