The United States' Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland on Wednesday expressed his country's disappointment at the postponement of Libya's elections from December 24 to January 24.

Norland's remarks came following an earlier statement by the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), which said it was "impossible" to hold the first round of presidential polls on Friday, as originally scheduled.

"Work towards elections should be a priority, in line with strong public desires. Libyan leaders, on behalf of the Libyan people, should expeditiously address all legal and political obstacles to hold elections, including finalizing the list of presidential candidates," he said.

"The United States shares the concern and disappointment of the vast majority of Libyans who expect to have the opportunity to vote for their country's future."

The U.S. envoy also called for calm amid reports of security threats in Tripoli and other towns.

The U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Tuesday reported instances of mobilization of forces affiliated with different groups creates tensions and increases the risk of clashes that could spiral into conflict.

"Now is not the time for unilateral actions or armed deployments that risk escalation and unintended consequences detrimental to the security and safety of Libyans. We reiterate UNSMIL’s call for disagreements on emerging political or military matters to be resolved without resorting to violence," said Norland.