In the Saudi capital Riyadh, hundreds of foreign workers were piled into buses to be taken to deportation centres on Wednesday evening.<br /><br /> The Saudi authorities have been rounding up undocumented immigrants, most of them from African countries, since an amnesty period ended on November 4.<br /><br /> The clampdown is aimed at reducing the size of the black market in cheap foreign labour and creating more jobs for Saudis.<br /><br /> Tensions have flared since the police raids began as soon as the amnesty ended. <br /><br /> The authorities say that three Saudis and two foreigners have been killed in clashes.<br /><br /> But those resisting are in the minority. More than 23,000 Ethiopians have reportedly handed themselves in. At least 30,000 Yemenis are said to have left in the last two weeks.<br /><br /> Before the crackdown began, nine million foreigners were estimated to be working in Saudi Arabia – making up a third of the population.
