S. African police fire rubber bullets as chaos erupts again

South African police on Friday fired rubber bullets to disperse rioters in central Johannesburg, a fresh hotbed of xenophobia violence.

The rioters threw stones and rocks at police and passing vehicles to display their grudge against foreign nationals blamed for taking up local employment.

"Go back to your home countries," some rioters shouted as they went on a looting spree.

There was no immediate report of injuries.

All foreign-owned shops in the area were closed and foreigners went into hiding.

This followed overnight looting of foreign-owned shops in Jeppestown near Johannesburg CBD.

Locals set alight three vehicles owned by foreigners and blockaded roads.

Dozens of people suspected of involvement in acts of violence have been arrested, police said.

After a night of chaos, anti-foreigner protesters went from Jeppestown to central Johannesburg to continue their looting.

In a related development, ambassadors of African countries whose nationals are affected by the latest spate of xenophobia violence met with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Nkoana Maite-Mashabane in Pretoria to express their disappoint at the way the South African government is handling the violence.

They urged the South African government to take tougher action against perpetrators and ensure the safety of foreign nationals.

Maite-Mashabane said her government was responding to their concerns and is doing what it can to reign in the rioters. Endi