The Foreign Office is investigating reports of British casualties in fighting in Somalia, amid claims that support and funding for the country's Islamic militant movement had come from the UK.
Following days of fierce fighting in the African country, the United States reportedly launched a series of air strikes against Islamic extremists it suspects of having links to al Qaida.
Ethiopia's prime minister said many international terrorists had been killed, injured or captured in the fighting - including Britons.
Meanwhile, Somalia's deputy prime minister claimed that much of the funding for the Islamist militants was coming from Britain and that some of their fighters were British and American passport holders.
There was also condemnation from British-based Islamic groups of the US intervention in the conflict.
Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia, a largely Muslim country, last month to prevent an Islamic movement from ousting the weak, internationally recognised government from its lone stronghold in the west of the country.
Leaders of the Islamic movement have vowed to launch an Iraq-style guerrilla war in Somalia, and al Qaida chief Osama bin Laden's deputy has called on militants to carry out suicide attacks on the Ethiopian troops.
There were reports at the weekend that British passport holders were involved in the fighting, which has claimed scores of lives.
The French newspaper Le Monde quoted Ethiopia's prime minister Meles Zenawi as saying that suspected terrorists from Britain were among those injured and captured.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We take these reports very seriously and will do everything we can to look into them. We are in constant touch with the Ethiopian and Somalian governments and will look into this matter."
