18 bodies found from downed Libya helicopter

The death toll from the downing over the Mediterranean of a helicopter belonging to Libya’s Tripoli-based government has risen to 18, a naval officer said on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Rabii Mohamad said 13 bodies were retrieved after the aircraft was shot down Tuesday near Al-Maya, west of the capital, and five more Wednesday morning.

“On Wednesday we will focus on trying to pull out the wreck of the aircraft but we don’t know if there are other bodies because the number of passengers is not clear,” Mohamad told AFP. Colonel Mustafa Sharkasi, from Tripoli’s air force, said Tuesday 16 people were on board and at least nine killed, including Colonel Hussein Abu Diyya of the Fajr Libya militia that controls the capital. Sharkasi blamed the internationally – which denied any involvement – and vowed retaliation. So far, no one has claimed responsibility. Libya descended into chaos after the October 2011 ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.