CAIRO, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Tuesday urged all parties in Libya to exercise self-restraint as a series of armed clashes broke out in the country's capital recently.

In a statement, Aboul-Gheit highlighted the need to hold national elections at the earliest opportunity, calling for "preserving the cease-fire agreement to prevent ... more human and material losses."

"Holding elections is the only way to end the protracted transitional stages and renew the legitimacy of institutions in a way that ensures Libya's stability and construction," he said.

In a separate statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry also urged all Libyan parties to refrain from any steps that may fuel violence.

"Dialogue is necessary for holding legislative and presidential elections with no delay," the ministry said.

Clashes erupted across different areas in Libya's capital Tripoli between armed groups affiliated with Fathi Bashagha who heads the new government approved by the Libyan parliament, and others supported by the provisional Government of National Unity headed by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, according to local residents.

On Sunday, clashes broke out between armed groups that involved indiscriminate fire and alleged use of heavy weapons in Janzour area, a densely populated neighborhood in Tripoli.

Libya has been suffering political instability and chaos ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Enditem

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