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Two Britons murdered in Somalia | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Two British nationals have been killed by Islamist fighters in a town near the Ethiopian border in central Somalia. | |
The bodies of 70-year-old Birmingham man Daud Hassan Ali, and a 32-year-old UK woman, both thought to be of Somali origin, were found in Beledweyne. | |
The bodies of two Kenyan teachers were also found at the scene. British officials in Kenya are investigating. | |
The Islamists reportedly raided an English language school after taking control of the town on Sunday. | |
'Urgent investigation' | 'Urgent investigation' |
The four bodies were discovered at the Hakab Private English School in the town. | The four bodies were discovered at the Hakab Private English School in the town. |
Beledweyne police chief Abdi Aden Adow said two of the dead had British passports and were of Somali origin. | Beledweyne police chief Abdi Aden Adow said two of the dead had British passports and were of Somali origin. |
Staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are urgently investigating Foreign Office spokesman According to Beledweyne resident Abdi-qani Hashi the fighters arrived late at night, freed prisoners and burned the governor's house before pulling out. | |
The fighting is part of a guerrilla-style conflict in central Somalia between Islamist militia and government forces backed by Ethiopian troops. | The fighting is part of a guerrilla-style conflict in central Somalia between Islamist militia and government forces backed by Ethiopian troops. |
A number of towns have been briefly overrun by militia before they have retreated. | A number of towns have been briefly overrun by militia before they have retreated. |
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are urgently investigating but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are unable to confirm any of the details at present." | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Staff from the High Commission in Nairobi are urgently investigating but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are unable to confirm any of the details at present." |
Earlier this month, a Briton and a Kenyan working in Somalia for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation were kidnapped by gunmen on a road between the towns of Bu'aale and Sikow in the southern Juba region. | Earlier this month, a Briton and a Kenyan working in Somalia for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation were kidnapped by gunmen on a road between the towns of Bu'aale and Sikow in the southern Juba region. |
Military wing | Military wing |
The Beledweyne raid was part of operations by fighters believed to be members of the al-Shabab militants who have been listed as a terrorist organisation by the US government. | The Beledweyne raid was part of operations by fighters believed to be members of the al-Shabab militants who have been listed as a terrorist organisation by the US government. |
Insurgents have carried out attacks since Somalia's Ethiopian-backed transitional government threw out Islamists from the capital Mogadishu in December 2006. | Insurgents have carried out attacks since Somalia's Ethiopian-backed transitional government threw out Islamists from the capital Mogadishu in December 2006. |
Al-Shabab is the youth and military wing of a group of Sharia courts known as the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which controlled Mogadishu and much of southern and central Somalia up to 2006. | Al-Shabab is the youth and military wing of a group of Sharia courts known as the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which controlled Mogadishu and much of southern and central Somalia up to 2006. |
Also involved are militiamen from the Hawiye clan who are violently opposed to the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali soil, as well as African Union peacekeepers. | Also involved are militiamen from the Hawiye clan who are violently opposed to the presence of Ethiopian troops on Somali soil, as well as African Union peacekeepers. |
Hundreds of thousands of people have already fled the violence, and aid agencies say 20,000 are leaving every month, with more than two million relying on food aid. | Hundreds of thousands of people have already fled the violence, and aid agencies say 20,000 are leaving every month, with more than two million relying on food aid. |
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Somalia. | The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Somalia. |
Somalia has not had a functioning national government for 17 years. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government for 17 years. |