The Dutch government on Tuesday apologized for the violent attack on the Chinese embassy in The Hague by supporters of separatists in China's northwest region of Xinjiang.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, on behalf of his government, offered an apology to Zhang Daxing, Chinese charge d'affaires to the Netherlands.

The Dutch government will pay for the damage caused by the attack and avoid repetition of such incidents, Verhagen said, adding that the relevant authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice and keep the Chinese side informed.

He said Dutch police have already beefed up security around the Chinese embassy.

Zhang briefed Verhagen on the violence on Sunday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which killed at least 156 people and injured more than 1,000 others.

The incident was criminal acts orchestrated from overseas and organized in China, he said.

The Chinese diplomat urged the Dutch government to take a responsible position and avoid misjudgment of the situation.

The Chinese embassy on Monday was violently attacked by supporters of Xinjiang separatists. They burnt Chinese national flags and hurled stones toward the embassy, damaging a building in the embassy compound. Dozens of the rioters were detained by Dutch police.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2009)