The three Chinese nationals who died in bomb attacks on Jordanian hotels this week, which killed 57 and wounded up to 300, have been identified by the Foreign Ministry, according to a press release on its website yesterday.

 

They were members of a delegation from the University of National Defense who were staying at one of three hotels targeted in the Jordanian capital Amman, the press release said. 

 

The defense ministry’s Foreign Affairs Office identified the dead as Sun Jingbo, Zhang Kangping and Pan Wei, aged 41, 42 and 44 respectively.

 

The one Chinese citizen known to have been wounded, 42-year-old Yao Liqiang, suffered from a leg fracture and was under medical treatment at a military hospital but out of danger, according to the Foreign Affairs Office.

 

The other members of the delegation have been transferred to one of Jordan's military bases under a Jordanian army escort, the office said.

 

Foreign Ministry officials said the delegation was staying at the Days Inn hotel, which was hit along with the Grand Hyatt and Radisson SAS.

 

They were returning to the hotel at around 9:00 PM local time on Wednesday after a welcoming dinner at the Chinese embassy when a bomb four to five meters outside the hotel went off, killing one on the spot and wounding another three. Two died later in hospital.

 

A working team dispatched to Amman by the government to help deal with the aftermath of the attacks left Beijing at 6:30 PM yesterday. It included defense and foreign ministry officials and was accompanied by victims’ family members.

 

Chinese leaders have expressed strong condemnation for the attacks and sent condolences to victims and their relatives. 

 

President Hu Jintao also sent a message of condolence to Jordanian King Abdullah II, and Premier Wen Jiabao advised institutions and visiting teams in foreign countries to take necessary steps to guarantee the safety of people and property.

 

The Foreign Ministry has advised Chinese nationals to avoid traveling to Jordan at the moment. 

 

So far, no organizations have claimed responsibility for the attacks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2005)