JOHANNESBURG, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The youth of South Africa should stand up against the perpetrators of xenophobic violence, South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Monday.

    Speaking at a University of the Western Cape gathering, Mbeki said the youth had a responsibility to protect foreign nationals.

    "One of your immediate and critical responsibilities is to protect our fellow Africans who live in our country from the cowardly attacks by criminals, which we have seen here in Cape Town and other parts of our country in the last few weeks."

    The Young Communist League dedicated the June 16 Youth Day to all those who had suffered during the recent xenophobic violence.

    The organization said in a statement: "We dedicate our June 16 to all the victims of the recent despicable and inhumane xenophobic attacks that have engulfed the country in recent months.