U.N. moves in on South African violence

DE DOORNS, South Africa, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The United Nations announced its condemnation of violence and xenophobic attacks that drove 3,000 foreigners from their shacks in South Africa.

The foreigners included refugees and asylum-seekers from Zimbabwe staying in De Doorns, about 87 miles northeast of Cape Town, South Africa, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported Friday.

The international agency said it has moved quickly to help the displaced, putting them up in tents in a De Doorns sports field and community center.

Those displaced are awaiting the outcome of negotiations with the local farmers who accused them of stealing their vineyard jobs by taking lower wages and attacked their homes Tuesday.

While refugees and asylum-seekers with the appropriate papers may work in South Africa, tensions run high over job competition, the U.N. agency said.

The UNHCR said it is sending staff members to work with the South African Human Rights Committee to help bring conditions back to normal.