China strongly condemned the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan Tuesday.

Kong made the remarks when asked to comment on the explosion on Monday in Lebanon's capital Beirut which has killed 15 including Hariri and injured more than 100.

Kong said China expressed its condolences to the death of Hariri and its sincere sympathy to the families of Hariri and the other dead, and he hoped the explosion will not influence the security and stability in Lebanon.

No Chinese citizens were killed or injured in the explosion, Kong added.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2005)