Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday offered condolences to his Uzbek counterpart Sadyk Safayev over the terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan on Sunday and Monday.

In his message, Li expressed condolences for those killed in the attacks and sympathy with the families of the victims.

The Chinese foreign minister stressed that the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a severe threat to peace and stability in the region.

The Chinese government firmly supports the Uzbek government's crackdown on the "three evil forces" and is willing to boost cooperation with the international community, including Uzbekistan, in fighting terrorism, Li said.

At least 19 people were killed and 26 others injured in a series of terrorist bombings and shootings in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent and the central city of Bukhara on Sunday and Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2004)