President Hu Jintao
sent a message of condolence on Wednesday to Jordanian King
Abdullah II on the heavy casualties caused by explosions in the
capital Amman.
Hu, who is on a state visit to Britain, offered condolences on
behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, to
the victims' families and the injured, and expressed deep grief for
those who were killed in the explosions.
At least 57 people have been confirmed dead and more than 120
others injured in a series of blasts that devastated three hotels
in Amman on Wednesday night.
According to earlier reports, Jordan's Deputy Prime Marwan
Moasher said on state television that over 300 others were wounded
in the blasts at the Grand Hyatt, Radisson SAS and Days Inn
hotels.
Jordan's King Abdullah II, who is visiting Kazakhstan, condemned
the bomb attacks as criminal acts committed by a few stray
individuals, Jordanian TV reported.
Hu stressed in his message that the Chinese government condemns
all forms of terrorism and is willing to strengthen cooperation
with the international community to fight terrorism.
Also on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing sent a letter of condolence to his Jordanian
counterpart, Faruq Kassrawi.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that three Chinese nationals
were killed and another wounded in the tragedy. They were members
of a Chinese delegation visiting the Jordanian capital.
A Chinese official working group left Beijing Thursday evening by
plane for Amman of Jordan to handle the aftermath.
The working group consists of officials from the Chinese defense
and foreign ministries, sources with the ministries said
Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2005)
