New Zealand woman confirmed dead in Libya

A New Zealand woman murdered in Libya was visiting the country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The New Zealand woman and a British man were killed execution-style with shots to the head as they picnicked on a beach in western Libya, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed security official.

MFAT said in a statement on Saturday that details of death of the New Zealand woman were unclear and would be investigated by Libyan authorities.

She was normally resident in New Zealand and was visiting Libya, MFAT said.

Her family have requested privacy.

The Foreign Office in London has called for a thorough investigation by authorities in the north African country.

A photograph which is claimed to be of the dead pair has been posted on Facebook.

The grim picture, which was taken at night, shows them both lying face down on sand.

The bodies were found on Thursday.

The official said the Briton was born in 1965 and the New Zealander was born in 1967.

"It doesn't look like a robbery because there was no break-in at their Toyota car parked nearby. It was left untouched until we came," the official said.

The killings come a month after a US teacher was shot dead in the eastern city of Benghazi, after which the Foreign Office said further attacks against Westerners were likely.