The Libyan army has declared a partial ceasefire, two days after some of the militias based in western Libya announced a unilateral truce, BBC News reports.

The ceasefire was due to begin at midnight on Sunday, Jan 19.

They added that their forces “would adhere to the truce but would continue to pursue terrorists.”

The decision comes after the first round of UN-sponsored talks in Geneva last week that seek to end months of escalating violence in Libya.

Libya has been plagued by instability and infighting since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was ousted from power in 2011. Forces from the internationally-recognized government have been battling militias in different parts of the country.

The army's ceasefire declaration comes after some factions from an alliance of militias controlling the capital, Tripoli, announced a truce on Friday.

The Libya Dawn militia alliance also said that it would open up "safe passage to channel humanitarian aid".

After declaring a truce on Sunday, the Libyan army said that it would monitor the situation to "prevent any change in front lines of transportation of weapons and ammunition" which would violate the ceasefire.