SOMALIA: The Foreign Office is probing reports of British casualties following US air strikes in Somalia.

Following days of fierce fighting in the African country, America launched air strikes against Islamic extremists it suspected of having links to al Qaida.

Amid claims that funding for the militants was coming from the UK, Ethiopia's prime minister said Britons were among terrorists killed, injured or captured.

Meanwhile, the UN's new secretary general Ban Ki-moon today voiced fears that the air strikes could increase hostilities and harm civilians.