This was my first diplomatic posting, and during my career, I took part in the evacuation of British nationals (and others) in various locations. However, on this occasion, I was the one being evacuated from my residence to the embassy as a place of safety.
During this crisis, the SAS played a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of those involved.
Scene Setter:
The involvement of the SAS was crucial in managing the unfolding situation effectively.
This was a day I would not forget in a hurry. With just under four months left in my tour, I had spent the previous day trawling through future job opportunities. The Ambassador was out of the country, leaving the Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) in charge. I should have known from past experience that trouble often flares up when Ambassadors are away from post.
That morning, I awoke to the sounds of large explosions and gunfire in all directions. What was going on? There had been no forewarning of trouble; things had been relatively quiet and stable in the city over the preceding weeks.
I tried to contact the DHM on my mobile, but the network was down—a bad sign. I got on the embassy radio net and contacted her. She informed me that she had just heard from the German Embassy that a local high-profile opposition politician, Azem Hajdari, had been assassinated outside Parliament, and his Democratic Party (DP) supporters were blaming the Socialist government for the murder.
