Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals has been brought under control, South Africa's Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday.

"I do believe the situation is under control... the violence has subsided," he said at a briefing at the Union Buildings in the administrative capital Pretoria, following an inter-governmental task team meeting with President Thabo Mbeki.

The team was established shortly after xenophobic attacks erupted in Johannesburg's Alexandra township.

Nqakula said the briefing with Mbeki was to discuss progress made following the attacks as well as to deal with welfare issues and national security resulting from the attacks.

"To date 1,384 suspects have been arrested. Many of them were involved in violence and robbery," he said.

He added that 342 shops belonging to foreign nationals across the country had been looted while 213 had been burnt down. The death toll following the attacks stood at 56.

Nqakula said a meeting would be held on Monday night to discuss issues such as moving people who had been displaced by the violence to temporary welfare centers.

He said that it was strange that foreigners were being attacked when some South Africans had taken refuge in neighboring countries during the apartheid years.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)