New Delhi, Dec. 24 -- A private jet carrying Libya's most senior military commander and a high-level defence delegation crashed shortly after take-off from Turkey's capital Ankara, killing all eight people on board, Turkish and Libyan officials confirmed on Tuesday. Turkish authorities said the aircraft had requested an emergency landing after reporting a technical malfunction, but initial investigations have ruled out sabotage.

Those killed in the crash included Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, the Libyan army's chief of general staff, four other senior officers and three crew members. The aircraft went down minutes after departing Ankara, where the delegation had been attending high-level defence talks.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid ...