French commandos ‘attack militant base in Somalia’

Witnesses in Bulo Marer said they had heard a helicopter above the southern town before explosions and gunfire.

Al-Shabab militants are believed to be holding a French person hostage.

An al-Shabab spokesman told AFP news agency "several" French soldiers had been killed, in a claim which could not be confirmed independently.

The reported operation in eastern Africa came hours after France announced the start of a military intervention in the west African state of Mali, to support the government there against Islamist militants.

It was not immediately clear if the two events were connected.

Attack