Chinese Foreign Ministry paid high attention to the attack against US citizens in Beijing on Saturday, which led to the death of an American man and injuries to the other two, both women.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei promptly came to the hospital to see the injured US tourists and informed the US ambassador in China Clark Randt.

Senior officials from department of consular affairs of Chinese Foreign Ministry has immediately informed the case to the US embassy in China.

He has expressed deep sympathy to the US government and the relatives of the victims. "The Chinese government paid high attention to this case. Relevant law enforcement department has undertaken serious investigation and would promptly handle the case in accordance with the Chinese law."

The Chinese side will make every effort to save the wounded, and timely inform the investigation and its results to the US side.

Randt thanked China's sympathy to the victims and the prompt response from relevant Chinese departments.

A Chinese man attacked two American tourists and a Chinese tour guide in downtown Beijing on Saturday shortly after noon.

The attacker then killed himself by jumping from the second story of the historic Drum Tower, a popular tourist site, after the incident, a spokesman with the Beijing Municipal Government Information Office said, the motive for the attack remains unknown.

The two injured women are in stable condition at a hospital.

The attacker was identified as 47-year-old Tang Yongming from the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, according to an ID card found on his body.

On Saturday, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) issued a statement on its official website, identifying the American nationals as relatives of a US Olympic volleyball coach.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)