Britons caught up in Kenya riots

Servicemen and women from a Royal Navy task force were among thousands of Britons caught up yesterday in rioting in Kenya.

Troops on Christmas shore leave with their families and winter holiday tourists have been trapped in their hotels in and around the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa.

Protesters have blocked roads to Mombasa's international airport and the capital, Nairobi, with burning barricades.

The riots, triggered by a government clean-up exercise which led to the demolition of many small kiosk shops, coincided with the arrival in port of the aircraft carrier Illustrious, the nuclear submarine Trafalgar, the frigate Southampton and the supply ship Diligence.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "A number of personnel have been on shore leave but there have been no reports of them being injured in the disturbances."

Some British tourists have been able to reach the airport after making arrangements with the protesters to ensure their safe passage.