Beleaguered Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj is to visit Malta on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the government announced.

It gave no further details.

Sarrej's internationally-recognised government, based in Tripoli, is under immense military pressure from forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive to take the capital.

Haftar has justified the offensive by saying he is fighting against "private militias and extremist groups" who he said were gaining influence in the capital under al-Sarraj.

"Of course a political solution is the objective," Haftar told the Journal de Dimanche newspaper in France. "But to return to politics, we need to finish with the militias.

"The problem in Tripoli is a security one."

He offered an amnesty to fighters in Tripoli who laid down their arms, saying they would be allowed to "return home safe and sound." 

The talks in Malta are also expected to feature an upsurge in migrant departures from Libyan shores. A group of 216 migrants was brought to Malta after rescue on Saturday.

The Libyan prime minister was last in Malta in January.

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