At least 79 people have been killed and 141 others wounded in fierce clashes in eastern Libya between groups loyal to a rogue ex-general and Islamist militias.
Libya's government accused the "outlaw" retired general, Khalifa Haftar, and his irregular forces of trying to carry out a coup as they fight to crush militants in the restive eastern city of Benghazi.
Haftar, who led ground forces in the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, used warplanes and helicopters on Friday to support an offensive in pitched battles.
Giving the latest toll of Friday's unrest in Benghazi, health ministry official Abdallah al-Fitouri said those wounded had been taken to five hospitals in the area.
An earlier toll had 37 dead and 139 wounded.
Reacting to his vow to continue fighting until Benghazi is "purged of terrorists," the army announced a no-fly zone over the port city and suburbs, vowing to shoot down any aircraft that defies the ban.
The government, parliament and army charged that Haftar's operation was tantamount to a coup against the central authorities.
It is "an action outside state legitimacy and a coup d'etat," said a joint statement read on state television by Nuri Abu Sahmein, the head of the General National Congress.
"All those who took part in this coup bid will be prosecuted," said Abu Sahmein, flanked by recently appointed Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani and armed forces chief of staff Abdessalam Jadallah al-Salihin.
Haftar denied the accusations.
"Our operation is not a coup and we do not plan to seize power," he told reporters.
"This operation has a precise goal which is the eradication of terrorism" in Libya.
Haftar, who sees himself as the chief of the "national armed forces" and has the support of rogue officers and army units as well as warplanes and helicopter gunships, seemed to act on his own accord.
Haftar's threat to purge Benghazi of the "terrorists" is an affront to the authorities, who have struggled to stomp out lawlessness in the North African country, which is awash with weapons and effectively ruled by a patchwork of former rebels.
Once seen as heroes, ex-rebels have been blamed for attacks that have killed dozens of members of security forces, judges and foreigners in Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolt.
Earlier this year, Haftar caused a stir when he announced an "initiative" aimed at suspending the interim government and parliament.
That sparked concern on social media that a coup might be in the offing, but the government was quick to quash them and insist it was in control.
The army says Haftar is backed by tribes, army defectors and ex-rebels who are opposed to the central government.
Haftar defected from Gaddafi's forces in the late 1980s and spent nearly 20 years in the United States before returning home to join the uprising.
He has been accused of being in the pay of the US.
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