Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday sent a message to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, condemning the terrorist attacks in Ingushetia bordering the breakaway Chechnya.

Li said the Chinese government firmly supports the anti-terrorism actions taken by the Russian government and is willing to cooperate with Russia and the rest of the international community to make unremitting efforts to safeguard world peace and stability.

He also expressed condolences over the loss of life in the terrorist attacks and sympathy for the victims' families and the injured.

Some 200 heavily-armed rebels staged coordinated attacks overnight on key points in Ingushetia, killing 47 local law enforcement officers, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District Vladimir Yakovlev as saying.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2004)