Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul did not go to Monday night's protest but did call in Chalong police. Tourists and government officials were due to meet at the Metropole to gain full details of the tour operators involved and continue the investigation.

TWENTY-EIGHT Russian tourists were so upset at not receiving their promised accommodation on Phuket that they immediately staged a protest at the Russian consulate last night.

The Russians, picked up at the airport in three mini-buses, were dropped at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City about 8pm. It was not what they were expecting.

They had been promised accommodation close to the beach at ''the Sunmar Fortuna Hotel.''

After being unable to contact a Russian embassy representative, the group were taken by their bus drivers to the Malisa Villa Resort in Kata, home of the Russian Consulate, where they protested outside.

The tourists, unable to speak English or Thai told their account of events to Phuketwan reporters through their Russian guide, who spoke Thai.

The tourists showed documents stating they had paid the equivalent of 60,000 baht per couple for a 14 night inclusive holiday at 'the Sunmar Fortuna Hotel.''

Tourist police and local police attended the protest and Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul was called to the Malisa.

He told the tourists he would do what he could but they would have to spend the night at the Metropole first.

By this time, the mini-buses had departed and the tourists had to be carried back to the Metropole by police, with luggage piled high in a pickup.