Chinese gov't issues safety advisory for nationals in troubled Mali

The Chinese embassy in Mali has advised its agencies and citizens in the troubled country to be alert and safety minded amid ongoing political unrest.

Guo Xueli, the charge d'affairs at the Chinese embassy in Mali, said Saturday that the embassy has issued two emergency warnings, requiring Chinese-funded businesses and overseas Chinese to stay at home and away from key departments of the Malian government.

Moreover, Guo said, most of the Chinese companies in Mali have stored food and drinking water to ensure basic needs.

Guo also said that so far, no Chinese nationals have been killed or injured in the unrest. He said the embassy was preparing an evacuation plan and its implementation would depend on the situation in Mali.

Considering the current instability and possible chaos in Mali, the Malian Chinese association evacuated some people in February and March, Guo said.

Meanwhile, Chinese businesses in Mali have initiated measures to ensure the safety of their employees.

Sun Luocheng, chief of the Mali office of Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company, told reporters on Saturday that his company has sufficient food and drinking water for emergency use.

The office was now keeping in touch with its customers through normal Internet communications, Sun said.

A 31-member Chinese medical team from China's southeastern Zhejiang province is among the permanent foreign aid medical units.

Team leader Jin Ge told reporters that his unit has an emergency plan concerning the volatile situation and that all of its members are in good condition.

Jin added that the medical team had stored sufficient food a month ago and reports the security situation of the members twice a day.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Friday at a regular press briefing that "China attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese agencies and citizens in Mali."

He also called on relevant parties in Mali to proceed based on the fundamental interests of the nation and its people, and restore order as soon as possible.

Clashes erupted Friday evening near the presidential palace between opposition troops and soldiers loyal to President Amadou Toumani Toure.

The violence started Wednesday afternoon when soldiers in the capital took control of some broadcast facilities to vent their anger at the government's handling of a crisis caused by the Tuareg armed rebellion in northern Mali. Troops also took control of Mali's presidential palace later that night.