121 killed, nearly 600 wounded in Libya fighting: WHO

Fighting in Tripoli has killed 121 people and wounded 561 since commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive earlier this month to take the Libyan capital, the World Health Organization said Sunday.

WHO´s Libya account said on Twitter the organisation was sending medical supplies and more staff to Tripoli, while denouncing "repeated attacks on health care workers, vehicles" during fighting which began on April 4.

Intense fighting between pro-government troops and militias loyal to Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar continued Monday despite attempts by the United Nations to secure a temporary ceasefire.

Haftar's forces launched a military offensive to capture the Libyan capital of Tripoli last week, threatening to send the conflict-ridden country into further chaos.

The latest:

• On Monday, the UN said an airstrike by Haftar's forces hit Tripoli's only functional airport for civilian use. Flights were suspended until further notice.
• Reports of deaths very, but as of Monday, as many as 50 people are believed to have died in clashes between government loyalists and pro-Haftar forces.
• The UN says some 3,400 people have been displaced by the fighting, and many are cut off from emergency help.
• The UN had called for a two-hour truce on Sunday to allow civilians and those wounded in clashes to flee.
• The US military has temporarily withdrawn its troops "in response to security conditions on the ground."

Haftar's offensive 'endangering civilians'

Ahmed Mismari, a spokesman for Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), described a new facet to the clashes, saying: "Air forces took part for the first time in the military operations. It conducted a very successful operation to secure the airport road (to the city center)."

Colonel Mohamed Gnounou, a spokesman for pro-government forces, said its counteroffensive against Haftar aimed at "purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces."

The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called on leaders to avoid further military escalation and urged a "return to the political process." She added that developments in Libya were "definitely not going in the right direction."

Peter Millet, the UK's former ambassador to Libya, told DW international involvement should refrain from escalating the situation, saying: "I don't think the international community can, could or should intervene militarily in Libya."

Country in chaos: Libya plunged into chaos in 2011 after dictator Moammar Gadhafi launched a brutal crackdown against anti-government protesters. NATO-backed rebels eventually defeated the regime and captured Gadhafi, who was killed in captivity. Since then, warring factions have attempted to claim power in the North African country.