Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Police reinforcements have been sent to the South African township of Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, after attacks on foreigners

Two people were killed and about 40 injured during the attack. A crowd of local people attacked migrants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, telling them to leave. Police have arrested 15 people. The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has caused an influx of migrants into South Africa. Earlier this year, two foreigners were killed and 1,000 left homeless when their houses were burnt down outside the capital, Pretoria. Around 600,000 people live in Alexandra township, which attracts migrants from across southern Africa. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Alexandra says mobs chanted "Drive all foreigners away."

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