Xenophobic violence spreads, army deployment mulled

Xenophobic violence that has killed at least 24 people spilled over to South Africa's volatile Zulu heartland yesterday and security officials discussed whether to use troops to quell unrest.

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.

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.