Bishop: 'This is war'

Johannesburg - This is war!" said Methodist church Bishop Paul Verryn, calling for a state of emergency to be declared and the army's help called in.

Verryn's plea came on Sunday after gangs targeted immigrants at the church in continuing attacks fuelled by xenophobia.

At least 13 people have died, two by the necklace method, in attacks which have raged in Johannesburg's city centre and across the East Rand and West Rand.

An estimated 60 people were injured in the attacks, with attackers not sparing immigrants who were sheltering in the Central Methodist Church in the city centre.

Verryn said the police had warned on Saturday that they should expect an attack even on the Central Methodist Church.

Many Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Ethiopians and Malawians have been regarding the church as a safe haven.

Armed themselves with bricks

The atmosphere was tense after immigrants were assaulted outside the church on Sunday afternoon.

Many immigrants armed themselves with bricks and feared the worst.

Verryn said that, as a church leader, he could not encourage violence, but it was difficult to preach his high ideals when his life was not under threat.

"It would be a howling shame, a disgrace on this nation if an attack was launched on this church."