REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW YORK -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Monday condemned the airstrikes on targets in the city of Misrata on Sunday and urged all parties concerned to stop violence in the North African country.

"The Mission says that these and other attacks will only worsen the security situation and will not help bring an end to the fighting," a UN spokesman told reporters here.

"UNSMIL appeals to all sides to work towards de-escalation, and calls on them to take the courageous steps to stop this cycle of violence which, if it continued, will lead the country to chaos and all-out war," said the spokesman.

"The Mission reminds those advocating military escalation and are actively creating obstacles to a consensual political solution to Libya's crisis that their actions are in violation of Security Council resolutions on Libya," the spokesman added.

Forces loyal to Libya's internationally recognized government have for the first time carried out air strikes on targets in the third largest city of Misrata, which is allied to an armed group that seized Tripoli, the Libyan capital, in the summer. Misrata is located some 200 km east of Tripoli.

The internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al- Thinni has been forced to run a rump state in the east since a group known as the Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) took control of Tripoli in August, setting up a rival government and parliament.

Formed by militia from towns of Misrata, Zawiya, Sabratha and Zuwara, as well as some Tripoli-based formations, the Libya Dawn is the key fighting group the North African country.

Since November, a number of fighter jets have carried out air strikes on military sites of Libya Dawn forces in the cities of Tripoli, Zuwara, Zawiya, Sorman and Gharyan, according to reports.

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