A British man who was shot dead in Libya has been named as energy worker Mark De Salis.
His family said they are “shocked and devastated” by his killing, in a statement released through the Foreign Office.
Mr De Salis and a woman from New Zealand were shot dead near the coastal area of Mellitah in the west of the country, according to a Libyan security source.
He had been working in Tripoli in Libya for six years. He worked for First Engineering and was currently employed as a power manager bringing generators to Tripoli to provide electricity.
Mr De Salis’ grieving relatives stated that he “liked the Libyan people” and remembered him as a “decent and incredibly loyal man and he was loved by many”.
They said he had been with “a close friend from New Zealand who was also killed and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time”.
A photograph which is claimed to be of the dead pair has been posted on Facebook. The picture, which was taken at night, shows them both lying face down on sand.
Near them is what appears to be a picnic blanket with their belongings spread out on it, alongside a backpack.
Mellitah is near the town of Zuwarah and 60 miles west of Tripoli.
The area is home to a large oil and gas complex co-owned by Italian company ENI.
Foreign Office officials have already urged the Libyan Government to hold a “thorough investigation” in to the murders, noting that its Charge d’Affaires has raised the shooting with the Libyan authorities.
The Foreign Office said they are liaising closely with them on follow-up, adding: “We call upon the Libyan Government to carry out a thorough investigation into this tragic incident and to continue to do all it can to bring to justice the perpetrators of this appalling crime, as it strives to build strong rule of law in Libya.”