China condemns hostage siege in Mali following three Chinese killed

Highlights:

1. Three Chinese citizens killed, four others rescued

2. Three Chinese killed were executives from China Railway Construction Corporation Limited

3. Islamist group claims shared responsibility

4. Malian government declares nationwide state of emergency

Rescue team members carry out a body of a victim from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, Nov 20, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

BAMAKO –Three Chinese nationals were killed among the 27 victims in a hostage situation at Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced Friday four other Chinese citizens were rescued from Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.

Hong said China strongly condemns the attack at the hotel in Bamako and sent deep condolences to the relatives of the victims.

"After the attack happened, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Mali immediately initiated an emergency response and no efforts were spared in the attempt of rescuing the hostages," said Hong.

According to Hong, China will continue cooperating with the international community, tying its best to protect Chinese citizen's legal rights and security.

The Chinese victims are on a business trip to negotiate cooperative deal with Mali's ministry of transportation, according to the company. Their names and job titles are: Zhou Tianxiang, general manager of CRIG - Wang Xuanshang, deputy general manager of CRIG - Chang Xuehui, general manager of the Western Africa's subsidiary of CRIG.

Wang Yi, political counselor of the Chinese embassy in Mali, said the rescued Chinese are in stable condition.

China Railway International Group (CRIG) is a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.

In the statement posted on its official website, the company expressed deep sorrow and sent heartfelt condolences to the families of the casualties and strongly condemned the terrorists' brutality.

Al Mourabitoun, an Islamist militant group based in northern Mali, claimed it was jointly responsible for the attack. CNN reported the group's announcement of carrying out the attack with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

The group was also responsible for a shooting attack on a restaurant popular with foreigners in Bamako on March 7 this year, which killed five people and wounded nine others.