Clashes between parliament groups in Tripoli, Libya over the weekend have left 32 people dead and more than 159 injured, up from previous estimates of 23 deaths and 87 injured.

Fears are now growing among many Libyans of a wider conflict after the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and a rival administration backed by the eastern-based parliament exchanged heavy artillery on the capital's roads. 

Within Tripoli's civilian neighbourhoods fighting caused widespread panic as terrified locals were seen trying to escape the city.

The fighting has raised fresh fears of conflict in Libya over the political standoff between Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah in Tripoli and Fathi Bashagha, who seeks to install a new government in the capital.

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Bashagha's attempt on Saturday to take over in Tripoli was his second such attempt since May.

A major commander among the pro-Bashagha forces, Osama Juweili, said the fighting on Saturday had been triggered by friction between armed forces in the capital. However, he added, in comments to Al-Ahrar television, that "it is not a crime" to try to bring in a government mandated by parliament.

The UN's Libya mission said the fighting had included "indiscriminate medium and heavy shelling in civilian-populated neighbourhoods" calling for an immediate ceasefire.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also added that a genuine dialogue between groups was necessary in order to get around Libya's political impasse.

Libya has seen a relatively calm period in the last two years, following the chaos in 2011 after the Nato-backed uprising in which long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi was ousted.

Libya, as a North African nation, is on the migration route for many refugees from sub-saharan countries fleeing political and economic turmoil. A change to Libya' security situation would raise fears about the safety of migrants attempting to reach European or other countries.

So far, there is no sign of any move towards compromise between the main camps or of new diplomatic efforts to bring them together around a new push for national elections to resolve the dispute over control of government.

While pro-Bashagha forces failed to install him on Saturday, they still hold strong positions around the capital, and the main eastern-based Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar waits in the wings.