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LONDON—British embassy staff in Libya are "coordinating closely" with local authorities investigating the killing of a British national and his female friend from New Zealand, the British government said Sunday.
Britain called on the Libyan government Friday to carry out a thorough investigation into the murder of the British national, named as Mark De Salis, and the New Zealander and bring the perpetrators to justice as it continued to warn of further violence in the North African country.
The U.K. Foreign Office, which advises British nationals against all travel to Libya, has said the two were shot dead near the coastal town of Mellitah, west of the capital Tripoli. The town is home to an oil complex operated by Italian firm Eni ENI.MI +0.92% SpA and the National Oil Company of Libya.
"The British Embassy's police advisers, who are working to support Libya's efforts to improve security, are coordinating closely with the Libyan authorities' investigation into this tragic killing," the U.K.'s Foreign Office said in a statement Sunday. "It is important that a full investigation is carried out to identify and bring to justice those responsible."
It declined further details about the incident or investigation.
The Foreign Office released a statement from the family of the British man Saturday saying he had been in Libya for six years and was working for a company called First Engineering, bringing generators to Tripoli to provide electricity.
"The family of Mark De Salis are shocked and devastated to hear about Mark's death in Libya. Mark enjoyed his work in Tripoli and liked the Libyan people," it said. "He was a decent and incredibly loyal man and he was loved by many. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends."
The statement said the British man was with a "close friend from New Zealand who was also killed and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time."
On its website offering British nationals travel advice, the Foreign Office said the killings followed the shooting death of a U.S. national in the Libyan city of Benghazi in December and warns further attacks against Westerners are likely and could be opportunistic.
Violence broke out in Tripoli in November between armed militias and protesters demanding they leave the city, resulting in more than 30 deaths, and there was potential for further violence, the Foreign Office said.
"There is a high threat from terrorism including kidnapping. This threat is increased due to a threat of retaliatory attacks following the French intervention in Mali," it said.
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