RENEGADE Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, who is leading an unofficial military offensive against Islamist militias, welcomed street rallies in support of his campaign on Saturday.

Thousands had taken to the streets in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities on Friday, waving Libyan flags and chanting his name.

General Haftar claimed the demonstrations had given him a “mandate” to fight terrorism.

“People of Libya, you have given your orders. 

“There is no going back on accepting the mandate and facing up to the challenge,” General Haftar said in a statement broadcast on Libya’s al-Ahrar TV.

In Saturday’s broadcast, General Haftar said his forces would not return to their barracks until “terrorism” was defeated and called on Libyans to keep up their support for his campaign.

Haftar spokesman Mohammed Hegazi called on troops who have not yet joined the campaign dubbed “Operation Dignity” to do so within 48 hours or “face penalties.”

Later on Saturday, a spokesman for General Haftar’s troops — dubbed the National Libyan Army — warned the Libyan parliament against trying to reconvene, insisting that the chamber had been disbanded.

“Any attempt to meet or convene the parliament anywhere will be considered a legitimate target,” said the NLA spokesman.

Last week, fighters allied with General Haftar stormed and ransacked the parliament in Tripoli and declared it disbanded.

Days later, some Islamist MPs met at an alternative location but failed to approve a new government.

The government has declared the general's force an illegal organisation and labelled the anti-militia drive an attempt at an illegal coup.