An American tourist has been found dead in a hotel room in Zanzibar, police in the Indian Ocean archipelago have confirmed.

 

Local English newspaper The Guardian on Thursday quoted Zanzibar Urban/West Regional Police Commander Bakar Khatib Shaaban as identifying the American tourist as Brawan Gaway Chaffe.

 

The deceased was holding an American passport with the number of 202215810.

 

"The cause of his death is yet to be established," said the police officer.

 

The body of the deceased is being kept in a local hospital in Zanzibar.

 

The regional police chief told the press that before being found dead, the American tourist had placed a "No Disturbance" notice on the door of his hotel room.

 

Hotel attendants had to open the room with a master key after having learned that the American tourist had gone missing for two days.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2006)