Libya's UN-supported government on Friday announced a ceasefire across the oil-rich country and called for demilitarizing the strategic city of Sirte, which is controlled by rival forces.

In a separate statement, Aguila Saleh, speaker of the rival east-based House of Representatives, also called for a ceasefire. The announcements came amid fears of an escalation in the more than nine-year-old conflict.

Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord in the capital, also announced that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held in March.

Both administrations said they want an end to an oil blockade imposed by the camp of military commander Khalifa Haftar since earlier this year. They also called for oil revenues, the country's main source of revenue, to flow into the bank account of the National Oil Corporation outside Libya.

Powerful tribes in eastern Libya loyal to Haftar closed oil export terminals and choked off major pipelines at the start of the year in an effort to pressure the Tripoli-based government.