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Troops sent onto S Africa streets Troops sent onto S Africa streets
(about 1 hour later)
South African troops have been deployed for the first time in an effort to stop attacks on foreigners that have left 42 dead and forced thousands to flee.South African troops have been deployed for the first time in an effort to stop attacks on foreigners that have left 42 dead and forced thousands to flee.
Soldiers backed police in early morning raids at three hostels in Johannesburg, arresting 28 people and seizing drugs, arms and ammunition.Soldiers backed police in early morning raids at three hostels in Johannesburg, arresting 28 people and seizing drugs, arms and ammunition.
This is the first time soldiers have been used to stamp out unrest in South Africa since the 1994 end of apartheid.This is the first time soldiers have been used to stamp out unrest in South Africa since the 1994 end of apartheid.
Some 15,000 people have sought shelter from the attacks.Some 15,000 people have sought shelter from the attacks.
The violence began on 11 May in a township north of Johannesburg, before spreading to the city and the surrounding region. Buses burnt
Mozambique has provided buses to take about 9,000 people home.
Some Zimbabweans are also going home, preferring to risk the violence there than stay in South Africa.
Attacks have been reported in North-West province for the first time, after violence in Durban in recent days.Attacks have been reported in North-West province for the first time, after violence in Durban in recent days.
There were also attacks in the north-eastern Mpumalanga province.There were also attacks in the north-eastern Mpumalanga province.
"Two buses were burnt last night and one Mozambican guy was shot. He is in hospital," said police spokeswoman Sibongile Nkosi.
However, police in Johannesburg say the situation there has become calmer.However, police in Johannesburg say the situation there has become calmer.
Meanwhile, Mozambique has provided buses to take about 9,000 people home.
The screams of the burning Mozambican still haunt me... I have never seen such barbarism Zimbabwean woman In pictures: Fleeing the violenceYour stories: Witness to burning
The BBC's Karen Allen saw chaotic scenes and scuffles at a Johannesburg police station, as Mozambicans tried to scramble on board buses to take them home.
Leonardo Boby, deputy national director of migration, said about 3,000 people had returned to Mozambique each day this week.
Some Zimbabweans are also going home, preferring to risk the violence there than stay in South Africa.
One Zimbabwean woman told the BBC she had decided to return home from Johannesburg after seeing a series of xenophobic attacks.
The 36-year-old woman said she had seen an armed gang douse a Mozambican immigrant with petrol and throw him into his burning shack.
"The screams of the burning Mozambican still haunt me. When I close my eyes to try to sleep, I see the man screaming for help. But no-one helps him," she said.
"I have never seen such barbarism."
'Orchestrated'
The director general of South Africa's National Intelligence Agency, Manala Manzini, said on Thursday that the attacks were unleashed by movements that supported the apartheid government.
The unnamed groups had delivered weapons to hostels in the townships to launch attacks against the black community, he said.
SOUTH AFRICA Foreign population: 3-5mMajority from Zimbabwe, also Mozambique, NigeriaTotal population: 49mUnemployment rate: 30% How can S Africa end the violence?Tensions erupt in city of promise
Mr Manzini's comments were echoed by the minister of intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils, who said there were groups that had what he called their own political agenda.
"There was organisation... we have names of people who called meetings," he said.
The secretary general of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Kgalema Motlanthe, has said that many of the immigrants were able to get jobs in South Africa because they were better qualified than locals, whose education was disrupted by apartheid.
He said this was a cause of envy from South Africans, who needed to acquire the skills that would enable them to make a living.
The violence began on 11 May in a township north of Johannesburg, before spreading to the city and the surrounding region.
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