The United Nations has been forced to pull staff out of Malawi, southeastern Africa, after rumors of vampirism triggered public lynchings in the southern parts of the country.

At least six people have been killed by violent mobs in the Phalombe and Mulanje districts since mid-September, with vigilante groups setting up road blocks in search of 'vampires'.

UN staff have now been withdrawn from the area, with several other aid organisations following in their wake, according to a new report by the UN Department on Safety and Security (UNDSS).

Deadly rumours: At least six people have been killed by violent mobs accusing them of being vampires in the Phalombe and Mulanje districts of Malawi. Pictured is Mount Mulanje

Belief in witchcraft is widespread in rural Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, where many aid agencies and charity non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work.

A spate of vigilante violence linked to vampire rumours also erupted in Malawi in 2002, and saw farmers abandon their crops for fear of 'blood suckers' attacking them.

'These districts have severely been affected by the ongoing stories of blood sucking and possible existence of vampires,' the UNDSS report on the Phalombe and Mulanje districts says.

The Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Florence Rolle, said in an emailed response to questions that based on the report that 'some UN staff have relocated while others are still in the districts depending on locations of their operations'.

'UNDSS is continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure all affected UN staff are back in the field as soon as possible,' Rolle said.

Fear: The United Nations and several other aid organisations have removed their staff from Phalombe and Mulanje after the violent mob attacks

Rolle did not say how many workers had been relocated.

The UNDSS report said at least five people had been killed in the area since mid-September by lynch mobs accusing them of vampirism.

It said mobs searching for vampires have been mounting road blocks in the district, raising security concerns.

Local newspaper Nyasa Times reports at least six victims since mid-September.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika said the reports were 'distressing and agonizing'.

'This development has been of grave concern to the President and the entire Government,' his office said in a statement.

The UNDSS report said the vampirism rumours appear to have originated in neighbouring Mozambique, although it was not clear what had sparked them. It recommended the 'temporary suspension of U.N. activities in the area until the situation is normalized'.

It said some NGOs had pulled personnel from the districts and temporarily suspended their programmes but did not name the organisations.