Windhoek - The SWAPO Youth League has called for the expulsion of a senior South African diplomat after a row erupted between the ruling party's militant youths and the diplomat on a television debate on xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The youth league Thursday wrote to Namibia's Minister of Foreign Affairs saying South Africa's acting High Commissioner to Namibia, Pieter Coetzee "cannot be further welcome in Namibia" following an exchange of harsh words on national television.

SWAPO Youth League secretary for information and publicity Clinton Swartbooi said on NBC television talk show 'Face the Nation' that Zimbabwean nationals were being hounded out of South Africa to go and "vote for opposition party MDC" in the run-off elections.

The programme, which runs every week, was aired Monday.

Swartbooi also said attacks on foreigners in South Africa were well orchestrated by gangs armed by third forces bent on sowing confusion and division among the African people.

A clearly infuriated Coetzee replied angrily to Swartbooi and called his statements 'rubbish' on the live programme.

The youth league is now calling for the foreign affairs ministry to summon the diplomat to publicly apologise.

Swartbooi said in the letter to the minister that Coetzee's statements had created an environment in "which we find the utterances of the said representative extremely unworthy of title and stature of a diplomat hosted by the SWAPO party government.

"The arrogance and belittlement with which the South African representative dismissed the SWAPO Youth League public statement on the situation of violent and xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, including some Namibians, raised serious questions on the ability and commitment of this particular official, to advance, promote, strengthen and deepen our mutual co-operation and friendship.

"His characterising of Namibian youths has overstepped the permissible boundaries of public diplomatic conduct expected at all times from a diplomat."

"Perhaps, this statement is calculated to show how little Mr. Coetzee regards Namibia as a nation," the youth league said.

"We conclude that Coetzee serves no substantive interest, commitment, ability nor mutual respect in protecting and strengthening often sensitive and fragile inter-state relations.

"We believe that little can be done to salvage the bad taste that Mr. Coetzee's statements have left the rank and file of the entire Namibian youth. He cannot be further welcome in Namibia," the youth league said.

Coetzee refused to comment, saying he will wait to hear the statement from Namibia's ministry of foreign affairs.

Pana