UN Security Council condemns escalating violence in Libya

The UN Security Council Wednesday strongly condemned the escalation in violence in Libya, urging constructive efforts to resume an inclusive political process to address the security challenges facing the country.

In a press statement issued here, the council members expressed their "profound concern" about the deteriorating situation and its impact on regional peace and stability, Xinhua reported.

The members of the council strongly condemned ongoing human rights violations, use of violence against civilians and civilian institutions and public intimidation, including of United Nations personnel in Libya.

The UN has reported a recent escalation in hostilities in Libya amid air strikes in Tripoli and the Nafusa Mountains in the west as well as in Benghazi and its environs in the country's east.

The outburst of fighting comes just days after a UN-mediated ceasefire brought temporary relief to Benghazi and gave civilians there a much-needed reprieve from violence and an opportunity to evacuate and retrieve the bodies of the dead.

Since 2011 uprising that ousted former leader Muammar al-Qadhafi, violence amongst armed groups has spread throughout the North African country causing a humanitarian crisis.

According to numbers provided by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), at least 106,420 people had fled their homes in October alone. Since May, a total of 393,400 people have been displaced.