Tourists trapped by Mombasa riots
British servicemen and women took well-earned Christmas rest from the war against terror, only to find themselves surrounded in a different ‘war zone’.
They were among British tourists in Kenya who were trapped in their hotels as riots erupted throughout the Indian Ocean resort of Mombasa.
The international airport was cut off by burning barricades, as was the main road to the capital, Nairobi, as rioters protested against the demolition of their small kiosk shops as part of a government clean-up of the resort.
Hundreds of British servicemen and women and their families were in the resort, many taking a Christmas break in the sun after supporting the US-led war in Afghanistan.
Four British warships arrived in Mombasa in the days leading up to Christmas: aircraft carrier Illustrious, nuclear submarine Trafalgar, frigate Southampton and supply ship Diligence.
A tour operator said many of the troops and their families had already left the coast for national parks and game reserves inland.
Initial concerns that the vessels were the vanguard of a force to attack terrorists in neighbouring Somalia were dispelled by the government.
‘‘People should stop panicking over the arrival of the Royal Navy marines because they are only here to enjoy themselves and not to pursue terrorists,’’ said Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister Marsden Madoka.
Some tourists were able to reach the airport later, after arrangements were made with the protesters for their safe passage.
At one point during the fighting, a local MP threw himself in front of a bulldozer to save kiosks in his constituency, the newspaper Daily Nation reported.
Cabinet Minister Sharrif Nassir, who was leading the demolition gang, was rescued only when police fired on traders who were attacking his convoy with rocks. Meanwhile, looting broke out, and a group of rioters attempted to set a petrol station on fire.
Mombasa police boss Gerald Oluoch said one person had been trampled to death, but residents said many more people had died, and scores had been shot.
‘‘This is not the end of the clean-up,’’ said Nassir. ‘‘After Changamwe, we intend to turn our attention to kiosks on the Malindi highway because some of them are dens of drug dealers.’’
The running battles continued last night as critics of the demolitions called on President Daniel arap Moi to impose a proper compensation scheme before any more businesses are destroyed.
