More world leaders, government officials and organizations have offered their condolences to the victims of a devastating earthquake which hit China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Monday.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan and Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan expressed heartfelt condolence to the Chinese families of the victims and wished for an early recovery of those injured in the disaster. Armenia was ready to provide assistance to China's relief efforts, they said.

Central African President Francois Bozize and Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera offered solaces to the Chinese government and people, saying the Central African people will stand side by side with the Chinese people to face the disaster.

Guinea Bissau's President Joao Bernardo Vieira and Foreign Minister Maria da Conceicao Nobre Cabral said people in their country cherish a special feeling for their Chinese brothers. They offered deep condolences to the Chinese people in this sad moment.

Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma expressed deep sorrow for the big casualties in the earthquake and offered his sympathy to the Chinese government and people.

Vanuatuan Prime Minister Vanuaroroa Ham Lini also expressed acute sorrow for casualties and losses caused by the quake, saying that he believed the Chinese people would win the battle against the disaster and life in the quake-hit areas would soon return to normal.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed deep condolences and sympathy to the Chinese people and the victim's relatives. He believed that the great Chinese people have the courage, will and determination to win the battle against the calamity.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul expressed his deepest and sincere sympathy to the Chinese people and the bereaved families of the earthquake victims.

Meanwhile, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda expressed heartfelt condolence and deep sympathy to China amid the quake, saying that the ADB is willing to provide support for the reconstruction efforts in the affected areas.

Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koichiro Matsuura, expressed deep sorrow for the massive casualties in the quake.

UNESCO will try its best to provide help and assistance to China whenever it is necessary, he said.

Death toll from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake has climbed to 14,866 by 2:00 PM on Wednesday (0600 GMT), according to official statistics.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)