World Bulletin/News Desk

Libya's Supreme Court declared the country's internationally-recognized parliament as unconstitutional on Thursday, state news agency LANA said, deepening a rift between rival power centres in the oil producer.

Libya's elected parliament, the House of Representatives, has been operating from the eastern city of Tobruk since an armed group linked to the western city of Misrata seized the capital Tripoli, dividing the North African country.

A spokesman for the House of Representatives declined to comment on the ruling. The court is based in Tripoli where the Misrata-led group has set up an alternative parliament and taken control of state bodies, calling into question the court's ability to rule independently.

A number of lawmakers had asked the court in June to rule on the constitutionality of the assembly, which was elected in June.

On Wednesday, assembly spokesman Farag Hashem said the House would accept the court verdict and had no plans to appeal it.

Libya has been dogged by political instability since the 2011 ouster and death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Ever since, rival militias have frequently locked horns, bringing violence to Libya's main cities.

The sharp political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each of which has its own institutions.