Chinese nationals have so far been safe in Guinea, where a coup took place days ago, the Chinese embassy in Guinea told Xinhua on Friday.

Shortly after the coup on Tuesday, the Chinese embassy launched the emergency response mechanism and called on Chinese nationals to avoid unnecessary outing and to contact the embassy for help in case of emergency.

The thousands of Chinese citizens in the country are safe, said the embassy.

The situation in the capital Conakry was largely stable on Friday, with water and electricity supply as well as telecommunication service running generally normal, according to the embassy.

Some banks and gas stations, which had been closed following the coup, were reopened, and some small vendors were seen back to the streets, though some of the big stores and supermarkets remained closed.

According to Liu Guoxiang, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Guinea, over 50 Chinese have gathered in his hotel in central Conakry after the coup. His hotel has been running normally and the safety of Chinese nationals was unaffected.

Some Chinese citizens have left the country by plane after the Conakry International Airport gradually resumed operation.

Hours after the broadcast of the death of Guinea's President Lansana Conte, a group of military officers appeared on state radio and TV, announcing the suspension of the Constitution and the dissolution of the government and all state institutions.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2008)