Thabo Mbeki, the South African president, has ordered the army to deploy troops to quell violence against foreigners.

This marks the first time for the South African army to combat violence in the streets since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The attacks on immigrants began last week, costing the lives of more than 42 people and 16,000 displaced.

Yvonne Ndege, Al Jazeera's correspondent in South Africa, reports on the violence that is being fuelled by the perception among some poor South Africans, that the immigrants are robbing them of jobs and other scarce resources.

Most of the foreigners have fled from the economic and political turmoil gripping Zimbabwe. Others are from Mozambique, with more than 3,000 of them having already left South Africa.

Johannesburg - This is war!" said Methodist church Bishop Paul Verryn, calling for a state of emergency to be declared and the army's help called in.

Verryn's plea came on Sunday after gangs targeted immigrants at the church in continuing attacks fuelled by xenophobia.

At least 13 people have died, two by the necklace method, in attacks which have raged in Johannesburg's city centre and across the East Rand and West Rand.

An estimated 60 people were injured in the attacks, with attackers not sparing immigrants who were sheltering in the Central Methodist Church in the city centre.

Verryn said the police had warned on Saturday that they should expect an attack even on the Central Methodist Church.

Many Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Ethiopians and Malawians have been regarding the church as a safe haven.

Monday, May 19 2008 -- Alexandra, Diepsloot, Boksburg, Tembisa, Thokoza, central Johannesburg - those were only some of the towns where 'black foreigners' were being hunted down by armed waves of black SA youths between May 2 and May 18 2008. And the clearly organised ethnic-cleansing campaign is spreading rapidly.

Some 17 people - two by the necklacing method (See page 'ANC torture camp; where it was first used).

Reporters said today that bystanders were laughing while cops were dousing the flames.

Also attacked was the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg where thousands of 'foreign blacks' were crammed in, praying for refuge.

Rev Paul Verryn said police warned Saturday that they should expect an attack. Many Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Ethiopians and Malawians fled there, regarding it as 'a safe haven'...

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2 324710,00.html

Waves of xenophobic attacks continue....News South Africa Zimbabwe Violence Gang Murder