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| Brown appeals for unity in Kenya | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has contacted Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to express his concern about violence in the country. | |
| The prime minister urged both to work for "unity and reconciliation" after at least 100 people died in clashes over a disputed presidential election. | |
| The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to parts of Kenya, including Nairobi city centre. | |
| About 7,000 Britons are currently in Kenya, most of them on holiday. | About 7,000 Britons are currently in Kenya, most of them on holiday. |
| Mr Kibaki was officially re-elected president in the election, but Mr Odinga says he was robbed of victory by voting fraud. | |
| A statement from Downing Street said the prime minister had spoken to both men by telephone on Monday. | |
| "With both he expressed the UK's concerns about the conduct of the Kenyan elections, but strongly urged both to work for unity and reconciliation. | |
| "All sides should exercise and work for a solution that reflects the will of the Kenyan people." | |
| 'Very terrifying' | |
| Britons in Kenya, and Kenyan expats who have family back home, have been describing the violence. | Britons in Kenya, and Kenyan expats who have family back home, have been describing the violence. |
| A British teacher told how she and her family, including her newborn baby, were forced from their home in Kisumu, an opposition stronghold and scene of some of the worst violence. | |
| Alison Rogers, 42, also said the school she ran with her husband had been burned down and there seemed to be no way out of town. | Alison Rogers, 42, also said the school she ran with her husband had been burned down and there seemed to be no way out of town. |
| It's very, very terrifying British teacher Alison Rogers Teacher tells of Kenya ordeal | |
| "This morning we had a lot of people at the gate trying to break the gate down to the house. | "This morning we had a lot of people at the gate trying to break the gate down to the house. |
| "We phoned the police. The police brought tear gas down and helped us to get to a hotel where I am with my family at the moment. | "We phoned the police. The police brought tear gas down and helped us to get to a hotel where I am with my family at the moment. |
| "It's very, very terrifying," she said. | "It's very, very terrifying," she said. |
| Kenyan Meera Shah, who is studying in London, said she was "terrified to the bone" for her family, who are also in Kisumu. | Kenyan Meera Shah, who is studying in London, said she was "terrified to the bone" for her family, who are also in Kisumu. |
| Ms Shah, 22, who came to London in October 2004, said: "Like me, there are thousands of Kenyans living and studying abroad. | Ms Shah, 22, who came to London in October 2004, said: "Like me, there are thousands of Kenyans living and studying abroad. |
| "We are absolutely terrified to the bone because we don't know what's going to happen in the country." | "We are absolutely terrified to the bone because we don't know what's going to happen in the country." |
| She said she had been in constant touch with her family, who all live in what she described as the normally "peaceful" town. | She said she had been in constant touch with her family, who all live in what she described as the normally "peaceful" town. |
| Text messages she had received from family and friends included the following, sent on Monday: "Town is completely finished. There is a shoot-on-sight order. It's like Iraq. | Text messages she had received from family and friends included the following, sent on Monday: "Town is completely finished. There is a shoot-on-sight order. It's like Iraq. |
| There has been widespread looting and property damage in Kenya | There has been widespread looting and property damage in Kenya |
| "People have no idea what to do. Town has burnt down entirely and there are no more shops to loot." | "People have no idea what to do. Town has burnt down entirely and there are no more shops to loot." |
| The Foreign Office has urged Britons in Kenya to "stay indoors and seek advice locally" before travelling around the country. | The Foreign Office has urged Britons in Kenya to "stay indoors and seek advice locally" before travelling around the country. |
| As well as Nairobi city centre, it has warned against all but essential travel to some districts in Mombasa. | |
| A spokeswoman said: "We constantly review our travel advice for individual countries and will be looking at the Kenya situation closely." | A spokeswoman said: "We constantly review our travel advice for individual countries and will be looking at the Kenya situation closely." |
| Petrol worries | Petrol worries |
| Kenya receives about 290,000 visitors each year, many in January and February. | Kenya receives about 290,000 visitors each year, many in January and February. |
| Many of the thousands of British tourists there are on safari or staying in beach resorts close to Mombasa, where there have also been violent clashes. | Many of the thousands of British tourists there are on safari or staying in beach resorts close to Mombasa, where there have also been violent clashes. |
| No money is available as ATMs are empty British tourist in Nairobi | |
| One British tourist, who asked not to be named, is staying in the capital, Nairobi, and is unable to continue her journey on to Mombasa because of the dangers. | One British tourist, who asked not to be named, is staying in the capital, Nairobi, and is unable to continue her journey on to Mombasa because of the dangers. |
| She said: "Petrol is in short supply, in some places non-existent. | She said: "Petrol is in short supply, in some places non-existent. |
| "Food is the same. Farmers who sell produce here in Nairobi markets for the average family cannot get here, so fresh food is not available. | "Food is the same. Farmers who sell produce here in Nairobi markets for the average family cannot get here, so fresh food is not available. |
| "No money is available as ATMs are empty. Most hotels have placed a 'polite' notice saying they are short-staffed. Some staff are having to stay in hotels sleeping on floors." | "No money is available as ATMs are empty. Most hotels have placed a 'polite' notice saying they are short-staffed. Some staff are having to stay in hotels sleeping on floors." |
| Holiday company Kuoni said it had scrapped local excursions from Mombasa and Nairobi. | Holiday company Kuoni said it had scrapped local excursions from Mombasa and Nairobi. |
| However, British tourist Ivan Newman is at a beach resort south of Mombasa with his family, and described the holidaymakers there as "pretty relaxed". | However, British tourist Ivan Newman is at a beach resort south of Mombasa with his family, and described the holidaymakers there as "pretty relaxed". |
| We're in a very resorty sort of place here, it looks as though most of the violence is limited to the urban areas British tourist, Ivan Newman Scores dead in poll clashes | We're in a very resorty sort of place here, it looks as though most of the violence is limited to the urban areas British tourist, Ivan Newman Scores dead in poll clashes |
| He said: "There's a news blackout here, the government seems to have stopped the newspapers, there's not much happening on the radio either. | He said: "There's a news blackout here, the government seems to have stopped the newspapers, there's not much happening on the radio either. |
| "We're getting a lot of our information from the people here, mainly through texts, that they're receiving from their family and friends elsewhere in Kenya. | "We're getting a lot of our information from the people here, mainly through texts, that they're receiving from their family and friends elsewhere in Kenya. |
| "We're in a very resorty sort of place here, it looks as though most of the violence is limited to the urban areas." | "We're in a very resorty sort of place here, it looks as though most of the violence is limited to the urban areas." |