Libyan official: Egypt's president 'beating the drums of war'.

TRIPOLI -- Libya's internationally recognised government has denounced Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's threats of military intervention, saying his comments were akin to "beating the drums of war".

El-Sisi on Saturday warned forces loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli not to cross the current front line between them and forces loyal to renegade Commander Khalifa Haftar, whom Cairo backs.

The Egyptian president, who visited an airbase in Matrouh near the Libyan border, alluded to the possibility of sending "external military missions if required" adding that "any direct intervention in Libya has already become legitimate internationally".

Abdurrahman Shater, a member of the GNA-allied Libyan High Council of State, said his country's security and democracy have been in danger since el-Sisi insisted on bringing in military troops that Libyans did not accept.

"Take your hands off us, do not repeat the tragedy in Yemen," he tweeted.

Shater also said Egypt has intervened in Libya's internal affairs for four years.

El-Sisi told his army to "be prepared to carry out any mission here within our borders, or if necessary outside our borders".

"Sirte and Jufra are a red line," he said.

Forces loyal to the GNA, which is headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, have driven Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) from large swaths of territory in the west of the country as well as strategic towns near the capital, Tripoli.

GNA forces have now launched a campaign, moving eastwards, to capture the Mediterranean city of Sirte from forces loyal to Haftar, who was forced to offer a ceasefire after facing a...