S. Africa Deploys Troops as Immigrant Killings Spike

Anti-foreigner attacks spread across South Africa
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted May 22, 2008 6:48 AM CDT
S. Africa Deploys Troops as Immigrant Killings Spike
South Africans burn the belongings of foreigners who fled before taking over their plot in Reiger Park informal settlement outside Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, May 21, 2008.    (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

South African president Thabo Mbeki has summoned troops to help counter a wave of anti-immigrant violence in the country, AFP reports. Mbeki called on soldiers after police requested help quelling mob violence that has claimed 42 lives, officials said. As many as 16,000 people have been displaced by the violence. Locals blame foreigners for high crime rates and taking jobs (More Thabo Mbeki stories.)

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