Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is in Poland for a state visit, on Thursday strongly condemned a terrorist attack that killed 11 Chinese construction workers in northern Afghanistan.  

Hu also instructed the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan to try their utmost to ensure best treatment for the wounded and to properly handle the aftermath of the incident.

In addition, Hu urged the Afghan government and the UN mission in the country to investigate the incident and bring the terrorists to justice, and to ensure safety and security of other Chinese citizens in Afghanistan.

The Chinese president also conveyed through the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan his comfort to the injured and condolences to families of the killed.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan have taken measures to secure all assistance to the victims, and all the injured Chinese workers have been taken to a hospital in Kunduz.

The attack happened at around 01:00 am local time (2030 GMT Wednesday) on a construction site 36 km south of the city of Kunduz as some 20 gunmen opened fire at Chinese workers and security guards, leaving 11 Chinese workers dead and five others injured. One local Afghan was also injured in the attack.

These were major casualties China has encountered in Afghanistan in the past two years.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)