China strongly condemned the attacks on its foreign missions in Netherlands and Germany by "Eastern Turkestan" elements and other unidentified people, a Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Tuesday.

"We urge Netherlands and Germany to abide by the relevant international convention and take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions and institutions as well as the safety and dignity of Chinese diplomats," Qin told the regular briefing.

Qin's comments came as he confirmed that the Chinese Embassy in Netherlands was attacked on Monday afternoon by about 150 "Eastern Turkestan" separatists who demonstrated outside the embassy and threw stones.

Earlier Monday morning, the Chinese consulate in Munich of Germany was hit by gasoline bombs by two unidentified young men, leaving the building and China's national flag damaged.

Attacks on China's diplomatic missions came on the heels of Sunday's riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which killed 156 people and injured more than 1,000.

After China made representations with Netherlands and Germany, Qin said both countries had pledged to take effective measures to ensure the safety and dignity of Chinese diplomatic missions and staff.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2009)