Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) has halted its participation in UN talks aimed at brokering a lasting ceasefire in the war-torn country where a fragile truce has been repeatedly violated.
It comes as the capital Tripoli was subjected to a barrage of rocket fire on Tuesday.
It has been the target of a months-long operation by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar to oust the GNA.
"We are announcing the suspension of our participation in the military talks taking place in Geneva until firm positions are adopted against the aggressor (Field Marshal Haftar) and his violations of the truce", the GNA said.
"Without a lasting ceasefire... negotiations make no sense. There can be no peace under the bombing," it added.
The port strikes were the latest violation of a tenuous truce that came into effect in January, brokered by Russia, which supports Field Marshal Haftar, and Turkey, which supports the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.
On Wednesday Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Field Marshal Haftar met and agreed a political settlement is the only option for the North African country, a statement from the Russian military said.
They agreed there was no alternative way to resolve Libya’s crisis.
In a statement the GNA added: "It is clear the objective of the systematic bombardments of the residential areas, the airport and the port, in addition to the total blockage of the oil installations, is to provoke crises for the citizens in all the aspects of their life."
It said that Field Marshal Haftar's forces were "trying in vain" to destabilise the state, having failed to seize power.
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UN Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame holds a press briefing during UN-brokered military talks. AFP -
Smoke rises from a port of Tripoli, Libya after being attacked. REUTERS -
Ghassan Salame (C), special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, leaves a press stakeout after informing the media about new meeting round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA -
Ghassan Salame, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, informs the media about a new meeting round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, during a press stakeout, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA -
Ghassan Salame, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, arrives for a press stakeout to inform the media on a new meeting round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA -
Ghassan Salame (R), special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, informs the media about a new meeting round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, during a press stakeout, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA -
Ghassan Salame, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, informs the media about a new meeting round of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission, during a press stakeout, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. EPA -
Smoke rises from a port in Tripoli, Libya after being attacked. REUTERS -
Smoke rises from a port of Tripoli after being attacked in Tripoli, Libya. REUTERS
UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame had earlier on Tuesday launched a second round of talks in Geneva, with five senior officers from the GNA and five appointed by Field Marshal Haftar's forces taking part.
A first round of talks ended with no result earlier this month but Mr Salame said there was "more hope" this time, mainly because of the approval of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a "lasting ceasefire".
The UN Support Mission in Libya said in a statement on Wednesday that it hoped the talks could resume.
"The Mission calls for an end to the escalation and provocative actions, especially expansion of the conflict area, and urges all parties to resort to dialogue as the only means to end the crisis," it said.
Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime dictator Muamar Qaddafi, with rival armed factions still vying for power.
In the latest outbreak of fighting, Field Marshal Haftar launched his offensive on Tripoli last April but after rapid advances his forces stalled on the edges of the capital.
The fighting has left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced some 140,000 according to the United Nations.
Further talks were planned to start in Geneva on February 26 to find a political solution.
World leaders had agreed at a Berlin summit last month to end all meddling in the conflict and stop the flow of weapons, but little has changed on the ground since then.
EU foreign ministers agreed on Monday to launch a naval mission to enforce an arms embargo, which the UN said was being violated by air, land and sea.
The naval operation will be authorised to intervene to stop weapons shipments into the North African state.
