Libya's eastern-based army welcomes int'l call for truce

Libya's eastern-based army has welcomed the international call for a ceasefire to stop military action in the country in order to allow authorities to fight against the possible outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Tripoli, March 22 Libya's eastern-based army has welcomed the international call for a ceasefire to stop military action in the country in order to allow authorities to fight against the possible outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

"The general command (of the eastern-based army) welcomes the international call for a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons in order to confront the (possible) coronavirus infections," the army's spokesman Ahmad al-Mismari said in a statement on Saturday.

He added that the eastern-based army "is committed the most to the ceasefire", reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier, Arab and Western countries, as well as the UN Support Mission in Libya, called on the Libyan parties to stop all military action in the country to allow authorities to fight against the coronavirus.

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 to flee their homes.

Both rival parties have imposed a curfew in Libya to prevent any possible coronavirus infections.

( With inputs from IANS )