A majority of lawmakers in Libya's internationally recognised parliament on Monday rejected a UN peace deal and a proposal for a national unity government, one of them said.

MP Ali Tekbali said the decision was taken during a session of the parliament but that no vote took place.

"A majority of lawmakers decided to reject the (UN) proposals," Tekbali told AFP.

"No voting took place," he said "since the majority of the members have rejected the UN suggestions".

The official Lana news agency also reported that a "majority of lawmakers have announced their rejection of the proposals made by UN envoy Bernardino Leon".

Libya has had two administrations since August 2014, when a militia alliance that includes Islamists overran the capital, forcing the internationally recognised government to take refuge in Tobruk in the east.

UN envoy Leon announced on October 9 proposals for a unity government after months of negotiations.

The Islamist-backed assembly based in Tripoli which is not recognised by the international government has also balked at the appointments.

The UN Security Council has threatened to impose sanctions on those who block a peace deal in Libya, which descended into chaos after the fall of Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

The new UN-backed government would be headed by Fayez el-Sarraj, a deputy in the Tripoli parliament, and include three deputy prime ministers, one each from the west, east and south of the country.

A unity government in Libya is seen as the best chance to tackle migrant-smuggling from Libyan territory across the Mediterranean and the rise of the Islamic State group.