Maputo - Mozambique's President Armando Guebuza on Thursday appealed to Mozambican citizens not to respond to the xenophobic attacks against foreign migrants in South Africa, which he believed were aimed at undermining the "long-time friendship between the two states."

"Do not listen to these words of hatred being pronounced by some provocateurs," he said during a visit to the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

Twelve days of attacks on mainly African migrants in South Africa have claimed the lives of at least eight Mozambicans and led 10,000 Mozambican nationals to beat a hasty path home. Over 42 people have been killed in total and an estimated 25,000 displaced.

Over the last couple of days mobile phone text messages urging Mozambicans to retaliate against South Africans in Mozambique and to boycott South African stores have begun to circulate.

"Let us be patriots. No-one should go shopping in Nelspruit (a South African city close to the border with Mozambique). If we're not worthwhile, nor is our money," one text message read.

Mozambique's government has been assisting the return of its citizens from South Africa by sending buses to fetch them at the police stations and civic centres where they fled from attack and take them back across the border.

Some have no identity papers, meaning some migrants from other African countries such as Zimbabwe could be among the returnees.

Guebuza vowed that friendship and cooperation between the two countries "would be reinforced" and praised the South African government's response to the violence as having prevented large-scale bloodletting.

Apart from retailing, South African companies have substantial interests in Mozambique's tourism, mining and energy sectors. (dpa)