UN 'alarmed' at number of mercenaries in Libya

UN chief Antonio Guterres says foreign interference in Libya has reached an unprecedented level.

He told a virtual meeting of the UN Security Council that the conflict had entered a new phase and he was alarmed by the military build-up and the number of mercenaries involved.

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called for a halt to the supply of all arms to Libya, to help end foreign interference.

Earlier, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was reported as saying that the Libyan renegade general Khalifa Haftar was ready to sign a ceasefire agreement.

Russia is among a number of countries - including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - that support Gen Haftar.

The government's forces are heavily backed by Turkey.