Libya unity government looks to assert authority

Libya's unity government was trying to assert its authority in Tripoli on Thursday after the new prime minister-designate's sudden arrival, as the EU imposed sanctions on three Libyans for obstructing peace efforts.

Libya's Prime Minister-designate, Fayez al-Sarraj

Fayez al-Sarraj's arrival at a naval base on Wednesday drew fury from the militia-backed authority in charge of Tripoli, which demanded he leave or surrender.

Gunmen stormed the headquarters of a Libyan television station overnight, apparently in support of the new government, but the capital appeared calm on Thursday.

Banks and shops were open, police were posted on the streets and flights had resumed at Metiga airport after being suspended on Wednesday "for security reasons".

"The reactions have been better than we hoped for. The situation is good," an adviser to Sarraj told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The new government's arrival had been hailed by the international community as a crucial step in restoring order to Libya, which has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Formed under a power-sharing deal agreed in December, the unity government is meant to take over from rival groups running the country.

Libya has had two administrations since mid-2014 when the militia alliance overran Tripoli, setting up its own authority and forcing the internationally recognised parliament to flee to the country's remote east.

International leaders, increasingly alarmed by the rise of jihadists and people-smugglers in the impoverished North African state, have called on Libya's political rivals to back the unity government.