Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Wednesday that it is imperative to resume calm in Iraq at an early date.

It is reported that Uday and Qusay Hussein, two sons of Saddam Hussein, were believed to have been killed during a US forces attack in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Tuesday.

Kong said, "We have noticed the report."

China believed it was imperative to resume calm in Iraq and allow the Iraqi people to enjoy a stable life as soon as possible, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2003)