Libya’s new army chief of staff on Monday declared war on terrorists as he was sworn into office after parliament selected him to tackle unrest sweeping the north African nation.

Libya's new army chief of staff on Monday declared war on terrorists as he was sworn into office after parliament selected him to tackle unrest sweeping the north African nation.

Abdel Razzak Nadhuri, promoted to general when he took up his new role, spoke as Libyan "jihadist" group Ansar al-Sharia urged other extremists to unite under its banner.

"Allow me to declare, from this moment on, war on obscurantists, terrorists and takfiris (extremists)," said Nadhuri, whose predecessor General Abdessalam Jadallah al-Abidi was sacked by parliament.