Toronto's mayor in hot water

An official in the Kenyan resort of Mombasa Hamisi Mboga says he will ask Kenyans living in Toronto to write protest letters to the mayor of the Canadian city over remarks he made denigrating Kenya.

Mr Mboga said residents of Mombasa had heard of the remarks with shock.

Toronto's mayor, Mel Lastman, caused outrage in Canada this week when it was revealed that, before a trip to Mombasa to promote Toronto's bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics, he joked that he feared being put in a vat of boiling water while natives danced around him.

The Kenya Tourist Board has brushed off the incident, saying Mr Lastman appeared to be in enough hot water at home. Mr Lastman has apologised for his comments and says he won't resign.

Critics say the remarks have dashed Toronto's bid to host the Olympics.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service