The incinerated bodies of two men were found today by their burnt-out car in northern Corsica in a suspected feud killing among rival nationalist groups, Corsican police said.
Police discovered the two bodies by a beach 40 km (25 miles) south of Bastia after locals heard gunshots shortly after 11 a.m. Irish time and raised the alert.
Police said the two bodies, one inside the car and one outside, were unidentifiable.
The killings come amid heightened tensions after the slaying of leading Corsican nationalist figure Mr Francois Santoni on Friday following a wedding party in a village in the south of the troubled French-ruled island.
Mr Santoni's killing, also blamed on politically feuding between rival nationalist factions, has led to calls that French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin suspend draft legislation that would grant Corsican leaders greater regional powers.
Mr Jospin, anxious the policy does not backfire ahead of his expected presidential challenge next year, has not yet commented on the Santoni killing from his holiday home on the Atlantic coast. Other government figures have insisted the plan will go ahead.
But a senior deputy for his junior coalition partners the Greens called on Mr Jospin to end his silence, saying it was allowing rivals, particularly from the right, to exploit the growing concern over the situation in Corsica.
Of course he must speak, Mr Noel Mamere told RTL radio.
"Everyone's on his back, making it look as if Corsica is being torn apart. That is not the case - a large majority of Corsicans want a political solution", he added.