TUNIS, Dec 27 (KUNA) -- Libya's Government of National Unity announced on Saturday it will hold an official military funeral at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tripoli for Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Haddad and his companions.
The Libyan News Agency said the announcement followed the arrival in Tripoli of the aircraft carrying the remains of Al-Haddad and his colleagues, after memorial services were held earlier Saturday in the Turkish capital.
A formal military reception was held at the airport, attended by Presidential Council head and supreme commander of the Libyan Army Mohamed Al-Menfi, Council member Abdullah Al-Lafi, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, along with senior defense officials and army officers.
The private aircraft carrying Al-Haddad, four officers and three crew members crashed shortly after taking off from Ankara on Tuesday, killing all on board.
The delegation had been returning to Tripoli after talks aimed at strengthening military cooperation between Libya and Turkiye.
Al-Haddad, the top military commander in western Libya, played a key role in ongoing United Nations mediated efforts to unify the Libyan Army.(end) sbm.hs