By Sam Webb Forces loyal to a rogue Libyan general attacked the country's parliament today, claiming they are targeting Islamist politicians who protect the extremist militias now plaguing the nation. Lawmakers in Tripoli were forced to flee the attack, which was met with resistance from other troops, Mohammed al-Hegazi, a spokesman for General Khalifa Hifter, told Libya's al-Ahrar television station. Gunfire near parliament could be heard for miles around. Scroll down for videos In this Saturday, May 17, 2014 photo, Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter addresses a press conference in Benghazi, Libya. The death toll from fighting over the weekend in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi between troops loyal to Hifter, a rogue general, and Islamist militias has risen to at least 70, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. In a statement late Saturday, Libya's interim prime minister, parliament speaker and the head of military warned Hifter against further pursuing his offensive and threatened the troops cooperating with him. (AP Photo/Mohammed el-Shaiky)
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General Khalifa Hifter has denied the attack is a coup
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Parliament was pounded with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy weapons
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His soldiers are already fighting Islamists in Benghazi
Hifter is carrying out an offensive against Islamist militias in @placeholder, the country's second-largest city in the east.