Fighting in Libya's capital has killed 56 people and wounded 266 over the last six days, the World Health Organization said Thursday, as the UN mobilised to support the country's over-stretched hospitals. 

"Thousands of people have fled their homes, while others are trapped in conflict areas. Hospitals inside and outside (Tripoli) are receiving daily casualties," the United Nations health agency said in a statement. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to form a right-wing governing coalition on Thursday after securing victory in a high-stakes Israeli election despite a strong challenge from a centrist alliance.

Benny Gantz, the main challenger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, conceded defeat Wednesday in the country's election as results showed the premier was on track for victory.

Algeria will hold presidential polls on July 4, the presidency said Wednesday, as an interim leader took the reins after longtime ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in the face of mass protests.

Interim president Abdelkader Bensalah signed a decree "for the presidential election set for 4 July 2019," the official APS news agency reported.

Iraq has offered to put on trial hundreds of accused foreign jihadists in Baghdad in exchange for millions of dollars, potentially solving a legal conundrum for Western governments but sparking rights concerns. 

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that election results handing a narrow victory to right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give a "better chance" to a yet to be unveiled US peace plan.

The Algerian army vowed Wednesday to guarantee the "transparency and integrity" of the country's political transition following the resignation of longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The family of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi denied being in talks to reach a settlement out of court with Saudi authorities Wednesday, following reports that his sons had taken payouts. 

"Currently, the trial is taking place and no settlement discussion had been or is discussed," read an English statement posted to Salah Khashoggi's verified Twitter account.

The battle for Libya's capital intensified as the UN Security Council prepared to meet Wednesday to discuss the crisis gripping the North African country, where armed rivals are locked in a deadly power struggle.

The closed-door talks in New York come a day after the United Nations postponed a Libyan national conference aimed at drawing up an election roadmap because of fighting raging on Tripoli's doorstep.

With nearly all votes in Israel's general election counted, here is the preliminary distribution of seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament, according to Israeli media calculations.