South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki gave approval today for the army to help end attacks on foreigners that have killed at least 42 people.
The attacks on African immigrants, accused by many poor South Africans of taking scarce jobs and fuelling crime, have forced thousands of people from their homes, unnerved investors and hit the rand currency.
"President Thabo Mbeki has approved a request from the South African Police Service for the involvement of the South African National Defence Force in stopping on-going attacks on foreign nationals," a statement from the presidency said.
Police spokeswoman Sally de Beer said this would involve both equipment and troops being deployed into affected townships. "It will be in terms of equipment and personnel. They won't be taking over the role of the police, they will be acting in support of us in specific operations," she said.
Local media in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province said at least six immigrants were wounded in an overnight attack on a Nigerian-owned tavern in the port city of Durban.
The Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party, the ruling ANC's main rival in KwaZulu-Natal, said the Durban attacks showed the anti-foreigner violence had spread to the province - home to South Africa's biggest ethnic group, the Zulus.
"We are ... saddened by reports that such barbaric acts have spread to our province and Durban in particular," it said.
Police and provincial officials said the attack was not sparked by xenophobia, but it increased fears the violence could spread from the Johannesburg area where it erupted on May 11th.
Government officials raised the possibility that the attacks on foreigners were not spontaneous but organised, possibly for political reasons. Four community leaders were arrested in the Johannesburg area on Wednesday.
The United Nations' International Organisation for Migration said yesterday that the violence had displaced 13,000 people.
Government officials fear the crisis could damage the lucrative tourism industry and cripple the nation's bid to host the 2010 soccer World Cup.
The violence has also increased political instability at a time of power shortages, rising inflation and disaffection among the poor over Mbeki's pro-business policies.
South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, is home to an estimated five million immigrants. The biggest group - an estimated three million - are from Zimbabwe. They have fled economic collapse at home and the violent political standoff since disputed March 29th elections.