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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Denis Allex: French agent 'killed' by Somalia al-Shabab | Denis Allex: French agent 'killed' by Somalia al-Shabab |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed French intelligence agent Denis Allex in retaliation for a failed French operation to free him. | The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it has killed French intelligence agent Denis Allex in retaliation for a failed French operation to free him. |
| The French government has said it believes Mr Allex was killed during last week's raid, in which two French commandos also died. | The French government has said it believes Mr Allex was killed during last week's raid, in which two French commandos also died. |
| Mr Allex - a French spy - was kidnapped in Somalia in July 2009. | Mr Allex - a French spy - was kidnapped in Somalia in July 2009. |
| Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, said on its Twitter account that Mr Allex had been killed on Wednesday. | Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, said on its Twitter account that Mr Allex had been killed on Wednesday. |
| Al-Shabab had earlier threatened to kill Mr Allex and said that because of the rescue attempt, France would be responsible for his death. | Al-Shabab had earlier threatened to kill Mr Allex and said that because of the rescue attempt, France would be responsible for his death. |
| On Friday, about 50 French commandos launched an assault by helicopter on the al-Shabab stronghold of Bulo Marer, believing Mr Allex was being held in the town. | On Friday, about 50 French commandos launched an assault by helicopter on the al-Shabab stronghold of Bulo Marer, believing Mr Allex was being held in the town. |
| Al-Shabab said it had advance warning of the attack and Mr Allex - a codename for the French intelligence agent - was not in Bulo Marer at the time. | |
| France says 17 militants were killed during the fighting, which witnesses said was intense and lasted for at least an hour. | France says 17 militants were killed during the fighting, which witnesses said was intense and lasted for at least an hour. |
| Several civilians were reported to have been killed in the clashes. | Several civilians were reported to have been killed in the clashes. |
| France said it launched the operation after repeated attempts to negotiate Mr Allex's release failed. | France said it launched the operation after repeated attempts to negotiate Mr Allex's release failed. |
| Somalia's government said it had no prior knowledge of the raid and it regretted the loss of civilian lives. | Somalia's government said it had no prior knowledge of the raid and it regretted the loss of civilian lives. |
| On Monday, al-Shabab published a photograph of a French soldier who the group said had died of gunshot wounds after being captured during the raid. | On Monday, al-Shabab published a photograph of a French soldier who the group said had died of gunshot wounds after being captured during the raid. |
| Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than two decades. | Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than two decades. |
| France has a large military base in neighbouring Djibouti, including army, marine and air force units. | France has a large military base in neighbouring Djibouti, including army, marine and air force units. |