Foreign Embassies in China mourn quake dead with national flags at half-mast

The branch office of the United Nations Children''s Fund (UNICEF) lowers the UNICEF flag to half-mast on Monday, May 19, 2008, in mourning for victims of the May 12 earthquake. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]

Many foreign embassies in Beijing lowered their national flags to half-mast on Monday, to mourn for the tens of thousands of people killed in the powerful earthquake that struck the country's southwest on May 12.

Condolence books were signed in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in Chinese embassies and consulates around the world on Monday.

As of 11:00 a.m., diplomats from 80 countries as well as representatives of some international organizations have sent their condolences through the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xinhua news agency reported.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, ordered a three-day mourning period on Sunday starting this Monday. All public entertainment will be suspended during this period.

Starting at 2:28 p.m. on Monday, Chinese citizens nationwide stood in silence for three minutes to mourn for the victims, while air raid sirens and horns of automobiles, trains and ships wailed in grief.

Editor:Zhao Yan