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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Two Britons 'killed in Somalia' | Two Britons 'killed in Somalia' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Two British nationals are reported to have been killed by Islamist fighters in central Somalia. | Two British nationals are reported to have been killed by Islamist fighters in central Somalia. |
| They are thought to be teachers of Somali origin who were shot in an attack on the town of Beledweyne. | They are thought to be teachers of Somali origin who were shot in an attack on the town of Beledweyne. |
| The Islamists reportedly raided an English language school after taking control of the town on Sunday. Two Kenyan teachers are also reported dead. | |
| Staff from the British High Commission in Nairobi in neighbouring Kenya are investigating the attack. | Staff from the British High Commission in Nairobi in neighbouring Kenya are investigating the attack. |
| '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. |
| 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." |
| The 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. | |
| Military wing | |
| Insurgents have carried out attacks since Somalia's Ethiopian-backed transitional government threw out Islamists from 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. | |
| 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. |