THESE are the two men who could provide vital clues in piecing together the circumstances leading up to the death of a Somali man living in Southampton.

The Police Complaints Commission is appealing for the men, or anyone who knows them, to come forward as they continue their investigation into how Ali Farah Bullaleh died.

It is investigating the case because the police and ambulance service had spoken to Mr Bullaleh an hour before his death.

Mr Bullaleh was captured on closed-circuit television walking along Bevois Valley Road and talking to two people before crossing the street, where he collapsed in the road.

Two cars were seen swerving to avoid his body but he was then struck by a taxi at around 3.45am. Paramedics took him to Southampton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later.

The investigation has revealed that Mr Bullaleh contacted the police and ambulance service at around 2.30am on November 12 after he was involved in some form of assault near to the junction of Bevois Valley Road and Mount Pleasant Road.

Paramedics and police officers responded and spoke to Mr Bullaleh and it was after they left that he was captured on CCTV cameras talking to two men.

Today Ian Bynoe, the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner for the South West is appealing for anyone with information about the two men who were walking southwards down Bevois Valley Road at around 3.20am, to get in touch.

He said: "Is this a picture of you or someone you know?

"If so, please contact us.

Run over "We think these two men met a local Southampton Somalian man, Ali Farah Bullaleh, and chatted to him for about 15 minutes soon after these picture were filmed.

"We believe they were the last people to speak to Ali before he was run over and killed by a car. We know these two men had nothing to do with Ali's death, we just want to know what Ali said to them. It would help our independent inquiry enormously if we could speak to them about their conversation," he said.

Mr Bynoe will visit Southampton to launch an appeal for witnesses and posters will be putting up appealing for help.

One of the men captured on the CCTV footage was wearing a dark top and the other has white sleeves.

If you can help call the IPCC on 020 7166 3991 or e-mail southampton.witness@ipcc.gov.uk.