Armed men have taken control of the majority of government ministries in Libya’s capital and are preventing staff from entering offices, according to a government statement.

“We announce that most ministries, institutions and state bodies in the capital Tripoli are out of our control,” it said.

The government did not name which militias had taken over the ministries.

The occupation of the ministry buildings comes after Islamist-led militia group, Dawn of Libya, took control of Tripoli’s international airport on 23 August – defeating rival militants hailing from the mountain city of Zintan.

The militia subsequently secured the US embassy and other key buildings in the city.