ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A leaflet depicting migrant workers as talking work tools has stirred outrage among human rights activists in Russia's second largest city and prompted accusations of state-sponsored xenophobia.

The leaflet, whose authors say it was intended to promote tolerance, provides advice on medical assistance, safety and observing immigration rules. It has cartoons depicting migrant workers as a broom, a paint roller and paintbrushes.

"In fact it sets those who come to us and those who live here against each other. It has nothing to do with promoting tolerance," Alexander Shishlov, human rights ombudsman for St. Petersburg, told the RIA news agency.

One picture shows the animated tools smiling as they wait at an airport. The Russians greeting them, who include a doctor and a policeman, are all depicted as human beings.

Another drawing shows the "tools" facing a doctor who tells them how to avoid being infected with AIDS and says that by law they should go home immediately if they test positive.

Russia attracts millions of migrants from former Soviet Union states, which depend on their remittances.

In cities they are often attacked by skinheads and other nationalists, and are easy prey for corrupt police who extort bribes for minor violations. Polls show xenophobia increasing.

Many migrants toil at construction sites for meagre salaries and live in crowded barracks where infectious diseases are widespread and which are regularly raided by the Federal Migration Service.

The leaflet, which was approved by St. Petersburg mayor's office, tells migrants not to wear tracksuits, not to go outdoors in bathrobes and avoid wearing national dress to avoid "attracting attention which is not always needed".

The "Look Into The Future" charity, which published the brochure, said it saw no problem with it, adding the cartoons' impact had been tested on focus groups before release.

"No single migrant expressed a negative attitude or outrage. None of them associated themselves with these characters," said Gleb Panfilov, the charity's head.

• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
• Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
• Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
• News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
• Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
• Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
• Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
• Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
• IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
• Politics of development pays dividend
• A thematic play seen
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Getting GST acceptance will be tough
• A yen for the unloved dollar standard
• Bitten by the music bug

• French soldier stabbed on patrol in Paris
• Thousands run final mile of Boston Marathon as memorial
• Trio arrested over London soldier murder

• Pandelela-Mun Yee and Yan Yee-Jun Hoong bag bronze medals in Mexico
• World No. 1 Nicol sinks Waters to reach British Open final
• China confident of sweeping aside their final opponents
• Koreans in the final despite Dong-keun’s loss
• Macdonald and Marques share the lead
• McIlroy among big names who miss the cut as Molinari leads
• Kuchar leads in weather-hit second round
• Two tied at the top as rain stops play in the Bahamas
• Nico Rosberg revels in the rain as Mercedes stamp their mark
• Whitmarsh: McLaren’s hopes were too high this season
• Affendi brushes off hand injury to win CP130 race in Terengganu
• Hafizh needs to step up a gear after coming in fifth
• Vignesa right on track to retain GT Open title
• Dragons’ Melton confident of getting the better of Pringle in Game 2
• Indiana bounce back against Miami to level series

• Please wait.

• Too blessed to be stressed
• DAP’s Ngeh in hot water over subservient tweet
• ‘Harry Potter Wong’ casts his spell
• Rela man in coma after being rammed by biker
• It takes nearly 72 hours to get a new polycarbonate passport now
• Give birth naturally, women urged
• King launches ‘Colours of 1Malaysia’ at Dataran Merdeka
• Tribal violence on campus
• Punching their way to fitness
• Graduating is not the end Talking points