U.N. Accuses Libya Army of Seeking to Torpedo Peace Deal

The United Nations accused the army of Libya's internationally recognized government on Sunday of deliberately trying to sabotage crunch peace talks with a new offensive in second city Benghazi.

The U.N. Support Mission in Libya called for an immediate halt to the offensive announced by controversial army chief Khalifa Haftar on Saturday to give peace talks between the country's rival parliaments a chance.

UNSMIL said it "strongly condemns the military escalation in Benghazi."

"The air strikes are a clear attempt to undermine and derail the ongoing efforts to end the conflict at a time when the negotiations have entered a final and most critical stage," it said. 

The announcement of the offensive dubbed Operation Two-Edged Sword came on the eve of a deadline for Libya's rival parliaments to reach agreement on a U.N.-brokered plan for a unified government for the North African nation.

The country has had rival administrations since August last year when a militia alliance overran the capital forcing the recognized government to seek refuge in the east.

U.N. envoy Bernardino Leon has expressed hope that the rival sides will finally sign a deal in the Morocco seaside resort of Skhirat later on Sunday after months of rejected proposals.

UNSMIL called an "immediate cessation of hostilities in Benghazi and across Libya... to give the ongoing dialogue in Skhirat the chance to successfully conclude in the coming hours."