Beijing Expresses "Deep Concern" over Killing of Two Chinese HostagesChina's ambassador to the Philippines met Philippine Vice President Teofisto Guingona on Monday to express "deep concern" over the killing of two Chinese men by Filipino Muslim kidnappers, diplomatic sources said.During the meeting, Ambassador Wang Chun Gui also made "some requests" to Guingona, who is also Foreign Secretary, but the details could not be revealed yet, a source told reporters. The two Chinese were killed in the southern Philippines on Sunday while one of their compatriots held by the kidnappers escaped when the military mounted a rescue attempt. Seven of the kidnappers were also shot dead in two firefights in the village of Bunawan near the town of Columbio, 950 kilometers (589 miles) south of Manila, officials said. The bodies of the Chinese victims Zhang Zhongyi and Xue Xin were to be airlifted on Monday to Manila. The rescued hostage, Wang Shengli, is undergoing debriefing with the Philippine military. The three Chinese along with local businessman Edwin Lim, who acted as a guide, were snatched on August 12 while delivering a five million peso (US$94,339) ransom for Zhang Zhongyi's brother. The brother, Zhang Zhongqiang, was abducted in June. He is an engineer with China Electric Power Technology Import and Export Corp., a Chinese firm working on an irrigation project in the area. The engineer and Lim are reported to be still with the kidnappers. Source: chinadaily.com.cn |
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