<span style="color: #222222;">South Africa has temporarily closed its diplomatic missions in Nigeria following reprisal attacks by Nigerians triggered by xenophobic violence in South Africa. South Africa's Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, called the violence an embarrassment for her country.<br />''<br />''The minister said, South African government regrets all violence against foreign-owned stores or Africans from other countries who are resident in the country. She ordered the closure of the country's high commission in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and its mission in Lagos, following threats made to the diplomatic staff.<br />''<br />''Between Sunday and Wednesday, mobs looted and destroyed shops, many of them foreign-owned, in South Africa's commercial hub, Johannesburg. Police say the unrest has subsided and more than 420 arrests have been made.  <br />''<br />''On Tuesday and Wednesday, South African-owned businesses were targeted by protesters in several Nigerian cities, and the looters said the attacks were reprisals for the killing of Nigerians in South Africa. </span><br />