A NIGERIAN Islamist group said it has killed seven kidnapped foreign construction workers, including one Briton, snatched a week ago.

Seven employees of Lebanese firm Setraco were kidnapped by the Ansaru group. Three of the workers were Lebanese; the others were from Britain, Greece, Italy and the Philippines.

A message posted on an Islamist website yesterday claimed Ansaru members killed the hostages after journalists saw British warplanes in Bauchi, northern Nigeria.

The Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the claims.