Johannesburg, Oct 17 (IANS): South African President Jacob Zuma Wednesday called on the public to "contain their anger and exercise restraint" following riots over the murder of two children in a Johannesburg township.

"Such matters must be left to the police to handle. They will find the culprits," Zuma said at the Youth Leadership Summit here, Xinhua reported.

He was referring to the deaths of two children whose bodies were found in a public toilet in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg Tuesday morning. The two children, aged two and three, were believed to be strangled.

The murder was the latest in a series of crimes against children.

Earlier this month, the body of a boy was found in a field in Katlehong in the East Rand, Johannesburg, with evidence of torture and abuse before he met his cruel death.

Residents in Diepsloot took to the streets Tuesday, venting their anger and demanding justice. They looted foreign-owned shops, stoned passing vehicles and burned tyres. But by Wednesday morning, order has been restored in the township after police intervened.

Three suspects have been arrested in the case but a fourth is still on the run, police said.