World leaders, int'l organizations offer condolences to quake-hit China

BEIJING-World leaders and international organizations on Monday offered their condolences and sympathy to China after a major earthquake hit the country's Sichuan province and claimed thousands of lives. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda extended his condolences Monday to the quake-affected people in Sichuan, hoping that they could resume their normal lives and reconstruct their homes soon.U.S. President George W. Bush also extended his condolences to those injured and to the families of the victims."I am particularly saddened by the number of students and children affected by this tragedy," President Bush said in a statement."The thoughts and prayers of the American people are with the Chinese people, especially those directly affected. The United States stands ready to help in any way possible," he said.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov also extended their condolences and sympathy to China over the quake.The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, rocked southwest China Monday afternoon.The death toll from the earthquake in Sichuan province alone has climbed to 7,651, according to local authorities.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/13/content_8155306.htm

As in the days of Noah....