In the eastern city of Tobruk, protesters have stormed the Libyan parliament and set fire to a portion of the building.

Images posted online depicted thick columns of smoke as tires were burned by the protesters outside.

Other Libyan cities have witnessed protests against ongoing power outages, rising prices, and political gridlock.

In Tripoli, the capital, where a rival government holds sway, protesters demanded elections.

Their demand was supported by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the head of the interim unity government, who stated that all of the country’s institutions needed to be altered.

The unrest occurs a day after Geneva talks brokered by the United Nations to pave the way for a vote concluded with little progress.

Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted long-serving dictator Col Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been in disarray.

The oil-rich nation, a key departure point for some of the thousands of migrants traveling to Europe, once had one of the highest living standards in Africa, with free healthcare and education.

However, the stability that led to Tripoli’s prosperity has been shattered, and the city has witnessed frequent conflict between opposing forces.