A Chinese citizen was injured by two assailants apparently in a robbery attempt in southern Moscow, the Itar-Tass news agency reported Sunday.

The Chinese, identified as Qi Tianli, 30, was targeted near the Eridan Hotel on Saturday evening. The attackers threatened the victim with a knife and a pistol in an attempt to grab his briefcase, the Moscow police department was quoted as saying.

Qi managed to resist until the two ran away. He suffered head and nose injuries and was later sent to the Botkin hospital.

Police began investigation while hunting down for the two hoodlums, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2005)