Libya’s new premier was Tuesday challenging his rival, who refuses to step down, after deadly fighting between a rogue ex-general, who claims his forces represent the army, and Islamists in their Benghazi stronghold.

Libya's new premier was Tuesday challenging his rival, who refuses to step down, after deadly fighting between a rogue ex-general, who claims his forces represent the army, and Islamists in their Benghazi stronghold.

Former general Khalifa Haftar has exploited the political confusion to rally support among the public, politicians and the army, analysts say, after he unleashed an offensive in the eastern city last month to purge Libya of the "terrorists."

"When the state is absent, whoever emerges will be considered the country's last hope," said Othman Ben Sassi, a member of the now-disbanded Transitional National Council, the political arm of the rebellion that overthrew Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011.

On Monday, as clashes raged in Benghazi between militants and forces loyal to Haftar, prime minister Ahmed Miitig convened his ministers despite the head of the outgoing government, Abdullah al-Thani, refusing to recognise him.

Last Wednesday, Thani said he would let the judiciary decide whether he should cede power to the new cabinet, citing appeals filed by MPs against the chaotic General National Congress vote in May that elected Miitig.

It took place days after gunmen stormed the GNC, the Islamist-dominated interim parliament, to interrupt an earlier ballot.

The supreme court is due to examine the appeal on Thursday, according to lawmakers.