Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar called on his fighters to "drive out" Turkish forces backing the Government of National Accord (GNA), as talks drag on to end long-running war in the oil-rich nation.
"There will be no peace in the presence of a colonizer on our land," Haftar said, in a speech to mark Libya's 69th anniversary of its independence on Thursday.
"We will therefore take up arms again to fashion our peace with our own hands... and, since Turkey rejects peace and opts for war, prepare to drive out the occupier by faith, will and weapons," Haftar said.
Turkey's help with military advisers, materiel and mercenaries helped the GNA push back Haftar's forces from the gates of Tripoli earlier this year.
Haftar spoke after Ankara's parliament this week adopted a motion extending the deployment of soldiers in Libya by 18 months.
"Officers and soldiers, get ready", Haftar said, calling out to hundreds of soldiers on parade in a military barracks in the eastern port city of Benghazi.
A ceasefire signed in October under the aegis of the UN, and generally respected, has allowed the rival parties to return to the negotiating table.
