MAPUTO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Of the over 50 people who have died in the current bout of Xenophobic violence in South Africa, at least 23 are Mozambican, local media AIM reported on Monday.

    Speaking on Monday, at the close of a sitting of the Mozambican parliament, Manuel Tome, head of the parliamentary group of the ruling Frelimo Party, said as of Sunday, a total of 22,018 Mozambicans, fleeing from the violence, had crossed the border.

    Tome praised the government's response, pointing out that ministers have visited the camps for the displaced in Johannesburg, and have been in constant contact with their South African counterparts.

    The Mozambican High Commission in Pretoria has struggled to organize transport for the large number of Mozambicans who wish to leave South Africa.

    Mozambican President Armando Guebuza stressed on Monday that the response to the anti-foreigner riots in South Africa must be one of "unity and solidarity, but never of retaliation."

    He was speaking at the end of a visit to the transit center setup for Mozambicans fleeing from South Africa at Beluluane, some 30km west of Maputo.

    Guebuza said that Mozambicans who have suffered at the hands of the mobs were in a very difficult situation. Apart from the deaths, those who have fled have lost their property and many are severely traumatized by their experiences.

    On Sunday about 1,000 Mozambicans arrived by train at Ressano Garcia, the main border post. The total number of Mozambicans who have fled from South Africa is now put at over 22,000, according to the report.