A MURDER investigation has been launched after a man was beaten to death in an "unprovoked and violent attack" yards from his front door.

William McKeeney, 57, was targeted while returning home after buying fish and chips at the end of a night out, and detectives are searching for two Asian men in connection with his death.

It is believed Strathclyde Police have not ruled out a racist motive for the attack in Glasgow's south side at around 12.40am yesterday.

Neighbours last night suggested the victim, from Melville Street, Pollokshields, had previously encountered trouble with a group of young Asian men who had slashed the tyres of his car.

Detective Chief Inspector David Gailey, of Strathclyde Police, said Mr McKeeney had been socialising locally in the hours before his death.

He added: "At the moment it would appear that it was a completely unprovoked and violent attack. I do not know at this time if he met the two men responsible on his way home or close to his house."

Shocked local people paid tribute to Mr McKeeney, who was described as a "lovely guy".

A woman who lives directly across from Mr McKeeney's home said: "Our dining room is right beside where he was found but we didn't hear a thing. We just looked out the window and saw him lying there right outside our close. Then we saw his wife come out and the ambulance take him away."

The bottom half of Melville Street, in a largely residential area, was cordoned off yesterday and a police van with five officers guarded the area. Forensic officers were also on the scene.

John Robertson, 43, a neighbour of the victim for more than a decade, said he was "absolutely shocked" by the incident.

He said: "It is quite a quiet neighbourhood, we would never expect anything like this."

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said they thought Mr McKeeney had experienced trouble with gangs.

He said: "I think he had had trouble with a group of young Asian men. They had slashed the tyres on his car."

Pollokshields councillor David Meikle said: "It is important that all aspects are looked into, including the possibility that it may have been a racially motivated crime."

Strathclyde Police said both suspects were of Asian appearance. One is 6ft 4in and thin-built, and was wearing a light-coloured hooded tracksuit top and light grey tracksuit bottoms. The second man was of average height and build and wore a navy tracksuit.

The crime scene is in the street next to that where 15-year-old Kriss Donald was kidnapped before he was tortured and murdered in 2004. Four men of Pakistani origin were sentenced to life in prison for his murder.

Meanwhile, police in Edinburgh have launched a murder inquiry into the "violent and brutal" death of a man at a flat.

The dead man, believed to be in his thirties, was found at a property in Dickson Street, Leith, on Saturday, by a tenant who had been away for a few days. Lothian and Borders Police were last night working to identify the dead man, while following a number of lines of enquiry in the hunt for his killer.

Extra patrols have been sent to the area to reassure residents and gather information.

Detective Superintendent Allan Jones, who is leading the investigation, said: "While we have yet to formally identify the male found within the property, there is no doubt that he died a violent and brutal death - We are particularly interested in any activity in or around the flat in Dickson Street within the last week.

"The property is a main-door flat in a busy residential area, and I would appeal to anyone to come forward if they have seen comings or goings from the flat.

"We have a number of detectives working on this case, as well as increased patrols in and around the Leith area to gather vital community intelligence.

"I appeal to anyone who may have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward immediately."