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| Second French soldier 'dies after Somalia raid' | Second French soldier 'dies after Somalia raid' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamist rebels in Somalia say a second French soldier has died of his wounds after a failed rescue attempt. | Islamist rebels in Somalia say a second French soldier has died of his wounds after a failed rescue attempt. |
| A spokesman for al-Shabab militants said the commando had died of gunshot wounds and that both bodies would be shown later. | A spokesman for al-Shabab militants said the commando had died of gunshot wounds and that both bodies would be shown later. |
| The French military sent a force into southern Somalia late on Friday to try to free intelligence agent Denis Allex, held hostage since 2009. | The French military sent a force into southern Somalia late on Friday to try to free intelligence agent Denis Allex, held hostage since 2009. |
| Militants say he is still alive, with his fate still to be decided. | Militants say he is still alive, with his fate still to be decided. |
| The raid came hours after French troops had intervened in the west African state of Mali. | |
| 'Sacrificed' | |
| Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters news agency: "The second commando died from his bullet wounds. We shall display the bodies of the two Frenchmen." | Al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters news agency: "The second commando died from his bullet wounds. We shall display the bodies of the two Frenchmen." |
| On Saturday, French President Francois Hollande said two soldiers had been "sacrificed" in the operation and that Mr Allex had been killed by his captors. | |
| The battle erupted with al-Shabab militants after commandos swooped on the town of Bulo Marer on Friday night and Saturday morning. | The battle erupted with al-Shabab militants after commandos swooped on the town of Bulo Marer on Friday night and Saturday morning. |
| Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that 17 militants had been killed. | Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that 17 militants had been killed. |
| Senior al-Shebab commander, Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim, told AFP that it had been warned about the impending raid, but gave no more details. | |
| On Sunday, President Barack Obama acknowledged US forces had provided some technical support for the French operation. | |
| He wrote in a letter to Congress: "United States combat aircraft briefly entered Somali airspace to support the rescue operation, if needed." |