Tripoli - Nearly 2 000 demonstrators have gathered in the Libyan capital in support of a Switzerland-based Libyan businessman who had called for a rally to reject the leadership of both main sides in the divided country.
Basit Igtet has sought political entree in the oil-rich country before and has recently gathered thousands of Facebook followers and proposed himself as a potential leader for the country, split between rival militia-backed factions in the east and west.
Both sides opposed the rally, and hundreds of counter-demonstrators attended and shouted anti-Igtet slogans.
Libya sank into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed leaders Muammar Gaddafi.
The main leaders from both sides recently agreed to co-operate to ease tensions, and the UN has proposed a new "Action Plan" to unite the country.