Sources from Gharyan city said the forces under the control of Khalifa Haftar had been carrying out an arrest campaign since last Friday to detain several residents who oppose Haftar's attack on Tripoli.

This was coupled with heavy clashes in areas like Guwasim, Tagherna, Buziyan and Maghareba in Gharyan between some of the city's fighters and Haftar's forces.

The sources added that Haftar's forces had arrested over 20 people, especially in Taghsat area in downtown Gharyan.

Haftar's forces have been in control of Gharyan since the launching of the attack on Tripoli on April 04 as armed groups under the command of former Libya Dawn Operation's senior commander Adel Deab handed the city to Haftar's loyalists.

Ever since, the city has been seeing dire security and economic conditions with acute shortages of foods and fuel, which is confiscated mostly by Haftar's forces.

Gharyan's mayor Yousif Baderi along with parliament members from the city called earlier on the Presidential Council to name the city a disaster area.