China strongly condemns an Israeli air attack in southern Lebanon that killed four UN observers including one Chinese national, and urged for an immediate ceasefire.
According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his deep condolences and "demanded that the Chinese departments concerned properly handle the aftermath of the incident and take every measure necessary to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in Lebanon."
China called in Israeli Ambassador Yehoyada Haim on Wednesday morning and made solemn representations. The Chinese government requested that Israel fully investigate the incident and issue an apology to the victim's relatives.
Wang Guangya, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN, also issued an emergency request, asking the UN to require Israel to take every measure to ensure the safety of all UN peacekeepers and look into the incident.
 "For China and for others, we condemn this, because I think that any attack on the United Nations positions and United Nations personnel is inexcusable and unacceptable, so now we are working with others to have a reaction from the Security Council, I think all council members agree on this."
The Chinese victim, named Du Zhaoyu, was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. He was born in Jinan, the capital of east China's Shandong Province. He was sent to Lebanon in January this year as a UN observer.
Some 180 Chinese staff officers, engineers, as well as three observers, including Du, were working in Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.
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Director: Liu Chi