Arab League calls for ceasefire in Libya

"The political solution is the only way to settle the Libyan crisis," said Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

The Arab League of Foreign Ministers called late on Tuesday for a truce in Libya as the warring sides, with the support of their foreign backers mobilize near Sirte, the main oil region, and threaten an escalation.

"Libya is passing through a dangerous turn in the course of its conflict," Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement.

"The military option will not achieve victory for any side ... and the military action will not bring peace or establish stability on the Libyan soil," Gheit told an online emergency meeting called by Egypt to debate the latest developments in the North African country.

"The political solution is the only way to settle the Libyan crisis," Gheit said.

A ceasefire will enable a re-engagement in the United Nations-brokered negotiations to reach an agreement between the rival parties in the war-torn country, Abul Gheit insisted.

Libya's U.N. recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) had rejected Egypt's invitation to the meeting, denouncing that calls for peace talks were made by backers of the eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Earlier in the week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called on the GNA to stop its counteroffensive against Haftar's forces east of the capital, Tripoli, threatening military intervention and criticizing Turkish involvement in Libya.

Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that he could understand the "legitimate concern" of el-Sisi.

"I don't want in six months, or one year or two, to see that Libya is in the situation that Syria is in today," Macron said, accusing Turkey of playing a "dangerous game" in Libya.