The Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) declared on Sunday a state of emergency in the capital Tripoli after more than a week of clashes between rival militia, which have left 40 people dead and over a hundred wounded. The majority of the militias are affiliated to the GNA, which is headed by Fayez al-Sarraj. Western and Arab diplomatic sources have warned that the fate of the GNA is on the line in wake of the fighting. The violence forced Sarraj to cancel a planned visit to South Korea where he was set to hold talks with President Moon Jae-in. It would have been the first trip of its kind by a Libyan official to the Asian country. The Presidential Council announced in a statement that it cannot remain silent over the violence in Tripoli and its suburbs. It deemed the unrest as part of efforts to obstruct the peaceful political transition and thwart local and international efforts to achieve stability in the country. The state of emergency, it continued, is aimed at protecting the civilians and private and public property, as well as vital institutions.LNA stance Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar has yet to comment on the fighting. Commander of the LNA’s special forces, or Saiqa, Wanis Bou Khamda announced that he was prepared to intervene militarily to end the Tripoli unrest. “We are ready to intervene by land, sea and air and we are awaiting the orders from” Haftar, he added in a statement. His remarks were the first open warning that the LNA was prepared to resolve the fighting in the capital to protect the civilians after Sarraj’s UN-backed GNA had failed in containing it. Meanwhile, the clashes damaged a Brega Petroleum Marketing Company diesel fuel storage tank. The company warned of an environmental, economic and humanitarian disaster if the leak is not fixed. On the ground, the 7th Brigade, which is advancing from Tarhuna, said that it was making progress on its march on eastern Tripoli as it fights off the pro-GNA militias. Sarraj had previously announced the disbandment of the 7th Brigade, which was affiliated to the GNA’s Defense Ministry, and the “Tripoli Revolutionaries” group that is also embroiled in the Tripoli clashes. The Tripoli Revolutionaries was affiliated to the GNA as well. GNA spokesman Mohammed al-Sallak said that Sarraj was following up on the security situation in Tripoli and seeking ways to end the fighting. A truce was announced on Tuesday and a ceasefire was reached on Thursday, but it only lasted a few hours and security deteriorated as mortar shells were fired arbitrarily on the capital. Three shells landed near the Mitiga International Airport, forcing its closure for over 48 hours. Late on Sunday, some 400 prisoners escaped after a riot at the Ain Zara jail in Tripoli’s southern suburbs. "The detainees were able to force open the doors and leave" as fighting between the rival militias raged nearby, police said in a statement, without specifying what crimes the escapees had committed. Guards were unable to prevent the prisoners escaping as they feared for their own lives, the statement said.International reaction The Italian embassy in Libya denied reports that the mission was forced to shut down due to the fighting. It said in a brief post on Twitter that it will remain open and continue to “stand by the Libyan people during this difficult time.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation of violence in Tripoli, calling on all sides to cease the hostilities and commit to a ceasefire. He vowed that UN special envoy to Libya Ghassan Salameh will continue his efforts to work with all sides in order to reach a permanent political agreement in Libya that enjoys the backing of all parties. Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit also condemned the unrest, urging the need to end the fighting and allow the GNA to impose its authority in the capital. The United States, France, Italy and Britain on Saturday condemned the violence, warning that armed groups would be made accountable.