UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Monday expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violence in Libya, and called on all parties to de-escalate the situation and to commit to a cease-fire.

The members of the Security Council expressed their particular concern regarding the reported breaches of the arms embargo and the growing involvement of mercenaries, said the council in a press statement.

They called for full compliance with the arms embargo by all member states in line with Security Council Resolution 1970. They called on all member states not to intervene in the conflict or to take measures that would exacerbate the conflict, said the statement.

The council members reiterated their call on all Libyans to work constructively toward the unification of Libya's military and economic institutions, establishing unified and strengthened national security forces under civilian government authority, and a unified Libyan Central Bank.

They reaffirmed their full support for the leadership and work of Ghassan Salame, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya. They also welcomed ongoing international efforts in support of Salame to move forward a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by the United Nations with the involvement of member states and the Libyan parties.

The council members called on UN member states and the Libyan parties to engage constructively with Salame as lasting peace and stability in Libya would only come through a political solution, said the statement.

They stressed the importance of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya.

The Security Council received a briefing by Salame on Nov. 18.