More than 20 gunmen raided a Chinese construction site in northern Afghanistan early Thursday, killing 10 Chinese construction workers.

Six others were wounded, one of whom was in very critical condition, the Chinese Embassy to Afghanistan said.

A gang of armed terrorists intruded the construction site at around 01:00 am local time in Afghanistan's northern province of Kondoz and sprayed bullets at Chinese workers, the embassy said. There was an exchange of fire between security guards and the gang.

The Chinese embassy said it has asked the Afghan side to provide timely medical treatments. Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan Sun Yuxi was rushing to the scene.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2004)