"The commander general announces the halting of military operations from his side," a spokesman for Haftar, who controls swathes of eastern and southern Libya, said from the eastern city of Benghazi.

Haftar's rival, the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) had yet to respond, and an AFP correspondent reported hearing explosions in the centre of the capital Tripoli after the announcement.

The call for a truce during Ramadan, which began in Libya on April 24, came in response to "appeals from friendly nations," the Haftar spokesman said.