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Tripoli – The head of Libya’s unity government on Tuesday urged Libyans to rally behind forces battling to retake the city of Sirte from the Islamic State group.

Prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj said advances by pro-government fighters in the jihadist group’s North African stronghold should be a model for “a national initiative to fight terrorism”.

“We bless the victories of our sons on the front lines . . . in the fight to liberate Sirte and cleanse it” of ISIS, he said.

Forces loyal to the UN-backed Governmnt of National Accord (GNA) have been fighting since mid-May to oust ISIS from Sirte, 450km east of the capital Tripoli.

A parallel force based in eastern Libya, including local militias and units of the national army loyal to a controversial general, Khalifa Haftar, is not taking part in the operation.

Pro-government troops, a mix of militias and army units, have taken control of Sirte’s port and airport.

But their advance slowed at the end of last week as they reached central and northern parts of the city where ISIS fighters are holed up in residential areas.

Pro-government forces announced on Monday that they had seized an ISIS arms depot and also said that the air force had launched six air strikes against ISIS positions the city.

The forces fighting ISIS in Sirte include armed groups from western cities including Misrata, 190km to the northwest.

The Misratan forces are among the best-armed militias in the country and have several MiG fighter jets and attack helicopters.

These militias were set up during the 2011 uprising against former president Muammar Gaddhafi. – AFP