Thousands Rally in Support of Haftar as Benghazi Rocket Attack Hurts 20

Thousands of demonstrators rallied Friday in support of a rogue former general whose forces have launched a "dignity" campaign to crush jihadist militias in eastern Libya.

Ex-general Khalifa Haftar has garnered growing support amid frustration at the lawlessness in Libya three years after the overthrow of veteran strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

"Yes to dignity," read banners carried by demonstrators at Martyrs' Square in Tripoli.

Thousands more pro-Haftar demonstrators gathered outside Tibesti Hotel in the eastern city of Benghazi, a stronghold of the Islamists, and in Baida, further east.

"Yes to the army, yes to the police," their banners read. "No to militias, Libya will not become another Afghanistan."

On Wednesday, Haftar warned that Libya has become a "terrorist hub" and called for the formation of an emergency cabinet and legislative elections to be held.

His forces launched an assault against jihadists on May 16 in the Mediterranean city of Benghazi, birthplace of the 2011 uprising against Gadhafi, in which at least 79 people were reported killed.

That prompted the government to brand him an outlaw and claim he was attempting a coup, but Haftar insists he has no interest in power, just an end to the Islamist-dominated General National Congress, or interim parliament.

Libya's interim authorities have set elections for June 25.

Overnight, twenty members of a single family were wounded when a rocket slammed into their home near an army base in Benghazi overnight, medical and security sources said.

The family's home lies close to the headquarters of the army's special forces unit in Benghazi, which is backing Haftar, a security official said.

Another rocket hit the base but caused no casualties, the official said.

The 20 family members all suffered shrapnel wounds when the rocket hit their home in the central Abuhdima neighbourhood, al-Huari hospital spokesman Hani al-Aribi said.

Islamists have been blamed for almost daily attacks in Benghazi since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Gadhafi.

They have targeted foreigners and judges as well as security force personnel.

The special forces, who have suffered heavy losses in the attacks, threw their support behind Haftar earlier this week.