国内英语新闻:International community extends condolences to China over earthquake

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- A large number of countries and international and regional organizations have extended their condolences to China for an earthquake that hit northwest China's Qinghai Province and that has killed at least 617 people.

Messages of condolences were sent to President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

The 7.1-magnitude quake struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai Province early Wednesday, leaving at least 617 people dead, 9,110 injured and hundreds missing.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Wednesday extended profound condolences to Hu over victims of the devastating quake while pledging assistance in dealing with the aftermath.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued statements on the same day, sending condolences to the families of the quake victims and pledging assistance.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed "the most sincere condolence to the numerous victims in the tragedy" and was "confident of China's capacity to cope with the new ordeal."

French Prime Minister Bernard Kouchner said France stands ready to respond to aid requests from China.