Zulu king denies triggering S.Africa anti-immigrant attacks

South Africa's Zulu king has denied whipping up xenophobic hatred after he was accused of sparking violence that has left at least seven people dead.

Goodwill Zwelithini made a speech last month blaming immigrants for rising crime and ordering them to leave the country.

The outburst was seen as encouraging a spate of attacks on Zimbabweans, Somalians, Malawians and other foreigners.

But he told a tribal gathering in Durban he had been quoted out of context.

"This violence directed at our brothers and sister is shameful," he said.

"My speech ... was directed at the police, calling for stricter law enforcement, but that was never reported.

"The public was instead given another side of my speech, which had been twisted and misrepresented."

South African authorities have struggled to contain mobs in Johannesburg and Durban who have been hunting down and attacking foreigners.

At least seven people were killed last week and 307 suspects arrested in the worst ethnic violence since 2008, when 62 people were killed, mainly in Johannesburg's townships.