A police raid for illegal weapons triggered the violence

Fighting between security forces and criminal gangs started as police trawled a notorious area of the capital, Kingston, searching for illegal weapons.

"I started hearing gunshots being fired from every direction," said one policeman.

But the violence, however it started, has a strong political edge.

The main opposition party in Jamaica and some civilians are accusing security forces of indiscriminate shooting.

"On the way driving, just in front of the Denem Town police station, we came under heavy fire, hundreds of rounds," said one witness.

"Based on what I have seen it would have been from some members of the security forces, heavy, heavy gunfire, and the vehicle was actually hit and we all had to get flat, and we all almost turned over," said another.

Drug crime

Jamaica has one of the world's highest murder rates: 530 so far this year from a population of only 2.5m.

It is the drugs trade which drives organised crime and the prime minister is pledging to restore order.

He needs to. Jamaica's tourism is already suffering and it is vital to this poor country.

Britain and the United States are both urging tourists to take great care. The UK Foreign Office says it will keep reviewing its advice.

But Downing Street says that as things stand now, Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife will still go ahead with a short official visit to Jamaica planned for the end of this month.