Five Libyan rival government officials dead in helicopter crash

Five officials of the Libyan parallel authorities, including four officers, were killed on Tuesday in a helicopter crash in eastern Libya.

A statement from the Libyan Parliament rival to the Government of National Unity in Tripoli announced that the helicopter was heading to Tobruk after an official mission in Ras Lanuf, one of the main oil terminals in the east.

Among the victims are General Younes Idriss el-Dressi, Chief of Staff of the Speaker of parliament, his son Ahmad Idriss el-Dressi, who used to chair the Parliament and three officers, two colonels of the air force and a lieutenant.

The reason for the crash is not yet known.

The four officers are part of the military forces under the command of General Khalifa Haftar who is against the UN recognised government of national unity.