LIBYA’s internationally recognised government bombed a Tripoli airport on Monday as it swore in firebrand General Khalifa Haftar as commander of the army.

Gen Haftar vowed to continue his battle with terrorism saying: “We remind the world that our army is fighting terrorism on its behalf.”

Rival governments are battling for control of the country and its oil resources four years after rebels ousted Muammar Gadaffi.

The recognised Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and the elected parliament have been confined to the remote east since an armed faction seized Tripoli last summer, reinstating the previous assembly and setting up a rival administration.

Government spokesman Mohamed al-Hejazi said they had attacked the airport because it was outside state legitimacy and claimed: “Weapons and foreign fighters bound for western Libya pass through the airport.”