A wave of xenophobic attacks escalated in South Africa's seething townships, with mobs beating and murdering foreigners.
The unrest has killed more than 20 people since it began last week and increased political instability at a time South Africa is struggling with dire power shortages, rising inflation and growing disaffection among the poor over President Thabo Mbeki's pro-business policies. Police fired rubber bullets at rioters in communities around Johannesburg and in the central business district, where scores of foreigners live. High levels of poverty, crime and unemployment have fuelled resentment toward foreigners. Since the end of apartheid South Africa has become a magnet for millions of African immigrants escaping poverty and persecution.
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