The Libyan army has imposed a no fly zone over Benghazi Saturday in a direct challenge to forces that have been using airpower to press a campaign against Islamist militants in the city. Retired General Khalifa Haftar, who lived in exile in the United States before returning home to lead ground forces in the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, now commands what he calls a "National Army".
On Friday his paramilitary force, backed by warplanes and helicopters, pounded Islamist militiamen in Libya's second city and fought pitched battles with the former-rebels, AFP reports.
24 dead as Libyan ex-general battles Benghazi Islamists
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani denounced Haftar's forces as "outlaws" and called on all parties to observe restraint.
