Mbeki appeals for end of violence against immigrants
Tuesday, 20 May 2008 19:41
Thabo Mbeki has called for an end to the violence
South
Africa's president Thabo Mbeki has appealed for an end to the violence against foreign migrants sweeping the country.
At least 24 people have been killed in violent attacks against immigrants in South Africa since last week.
Mr Mbeki today declared that police will crack down on the mobs initiating the attacks.
"Citizens from other countries on the African continent and beyond are as human as we are and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity," the Al-Jazeera news agency quotes him as saying.
The president claimed that police would get "to the root of the anarchy".
Reports claim that almost 300 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence.
Thousand of people have been displaced and reports yesterday claimed 6,000 residents had fled the country.