22 October 2007

Two US sailors have been shot dead and a third critically wounded at a navy base in the Gulf state of Bahrain, the US Navy has said.

The shootings took place at 0500 local time (0200 GMT) and were under investigation, the statement added.

No explanation was given for the deaths and the sailors have not been named.

Bahrain is a close US ally and home to the navy's Fifth Fleet, which operates over an area of 7.5m square miles (19.4m sq km) in and around the Gulf.

The shooting took place at a barracks at US Naval Support Activity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7055922.stm