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Foreign troops launch Somali raid Foreign troops launch Somali raid
(9 minutes later)
Foreign soldiers have staged an attack on militants in Somalia, killing at least two people in a helicopter raid.Foreign soldiers have staged an attack on militants in Somalia, killing at least two people in a helicopter raid.
The troops, who according to some reports had uniforms with French insignia, attacked a vehicle carrying Islamists from the al-Shabab group.The troops, who according to some reports had uniforms with French insignia, attacked a vehicle carrying Islamists from the al-Shabab group.
Witnesses said the troops took away some men, and there were two bodies left in the road after the attack, in the southern district of Barawe. Witnesses said the troops took away some men, and there were two bodies left in the road after the attack, in the southern coastal town of Barawe.
The French foreign ministry has not commented on the claims. A French military spokesman has denied its forces were involved.
"There was a military operation carried out by four foreign helicopters," a village elder told the AFP news agency. "There was no French operation," said admiral Christophe Prazuck, spokesman for the armed forces' general staff, according to the AFP news agency.
"A car was destroyed, we are also hearing that some of the vehicle's passengers were taken on the helicopters." He said the only French forces in the region were tackling pirates off the coast and did not intervene on land.
French commandos have launched raids in the past to rescue their citizens from pirates or militants. A village elder said four foreign helicopters took part in the raid.
"A car was destroyed, we are also hearing that some of the vehicle's passengers were taken on the helicopters," he told AFP.
French commandos have launched raids in the past to rescue their citizens from pirates or militants. There is a French military base in neighbouring Djibouti.
The assault comes several weeks after a Frenchman held by militants in Mogadishu managed to get free.The assault comes several weeks after a Frenchman held by militants in Mogadishu managed to get free.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
Rival Islamist factions are battling forces loyal to the weak UN-backed government. Rival Islamist factions are battling forces loyal to the weak UN-backed government, which only controls small parts of the capital Mogadishu.