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Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China ¡¡

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday afternoon paid a three-minute silent tribute to victims of the May 12 earthquake in the central government compound of Zhongnanhai in Beijing.

At a ceremony that began at 2:28 p.m., Hu, in a dark suit with a white flower pinned to the chest, bowed his head under a national flag which was lowered at half-mast. He looked sad and solemn.

Hu was joined by his colleagues in China's top decision-making body, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.

The short ceremony took place while air raid sirens, cars, trains and ship horns sounded across the Chinese capital and most public activities came to a halt in the city, as part of the nationwide observation of a three-day mourning period for the quake victims.

It was the exact moment a week ago that the devastating 8.0-magnitude tremor hit Wenchuan County and its neighboring areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province, claiming 32,173 lives and leaving more than 220,000 injured as of 7 p.m. Sunday in Sichuan Province.

Nationwide, the confirmed death toll climbed to 34,073 by 12 a.m. on Monday, while the final figure was estimated to exceed 50,000.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin also stood in silence for the quake victims at a separate place at the same time.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, observed the silence in Beichuan County of Sichuan, one of the worst hid regions in the earthquake. Li was in there overseeing the rescue and relief work.

The State Council, China's cabinet, on Sunday ordered a nationwide display of respect for the dead of the quake. The ongoing torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, slated to open on Aug. 8, was also suspended from Monday to Wednesday.

Flags are flying at half-mast across China and all public amusements have been suspended from Monday, as the country of 1.3 billion people enters the three-day mourning period.

Chinese diplomatic missions abroad also observed the mourning, some holding the silent tribute simultaneously with domestic public despite the time difference. Condolence books were opened in the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates around the world.

The Chinese president just returned from a three-day visit to the quake-hit areas. During the trip, Hu stressed, "Quake relief work has entered the most crucial phase. We must make every effort, race against time and overcome all difficulties to achieve the final victory."

He asked rescuers on Sunday to use "every available means" to reach every village affected by the earthquake, instead of just working in towns and cities.

Shortly before the national silent mourning, a 5.4-magnitude aftershock hit Qingchuan County of Sichuan, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The tremor, which occurred at 2:06 p.m., was the latest major quake monitored following more than 20 aftershocks above magnitude5 that rocked the hardest-hit area in Sichuan.

China begins three-day mourning for quake victims

China's national flag flies at half-mast after the flag-raising ceremony on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing Monday morning, May 19, 2008. China on Monday begins a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12. (Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday began a three-day national mourning for the tens of thousands of people killed in a powerful earthquake which struck the country's southwest on May 12.

At 4:58 a.m., the national flag at the Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing flew at half-mast after a complete flag-raising ceremony. Full story

National flags at Chinese diplomatic missions fly at half-mast in mourning for quake victims

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese embassies and consulates in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries flew Chinese national flags at half-mast on Monday morning in mourning for victims in the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan, China. Full story

China quake death toll rises to 32,477 by 14:00 Sunday

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the powerful earthquake that jolted southwest China's Sichuan Province had risen to 32,477 nationwide as of 2 p.m. Sunday, while the number of injured reached 220,109, according to the emergency response office under the State Council. Full story

Magnitude of SW China earthquake revised to 8.0

BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The China Seismological Bureau (CSB) Sunday revised the magnitude of southwest China earthquake from 7.8 to 8.0 on the Richter scale. Full story

Chinese President expresses gratitudes for foreign aid in quake relief

Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday night speaks at a meeting on rescue and relief work of the earthquake, expressing gratitudes to foreign countries and people who have offered aid since a major earthquake struck the country. (Xinhua Photo)
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CHENGDU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday night expressed gratitude to foreign countries and people who have offered aid since a major earthquake struck the country. Full story

President Hu renews call to save lives in remote villages

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) talks with with military officers when he inspects disaster relief work in the quake-hit Xuankou Town of Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
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CHENGDU, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday urged rescue teams to reach remote villages that were battered by the strong earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan Province as soon as possible. Full story

Chinese President encourages quake victims to overcome difficulties

Chinese President Hu Jintao consoles locals in a village in Beichuan county, May 16, 2008. He encouraged them to be confident in overcoming hardships caused by the disaster.(Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday went to Beichuan County of Mianyang City to visit people affected by the southwest China earthquake, encouraging them to be confident in overcoming hardships caused by the disaster. Full story

Chinese Premier stresses all-out efforts to rescue quake victims

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao presides a meeting of the general headquarters of quake relief under the State Council Saturday afternoon. (Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday underscored unremitting efforts in searching and rescuing people buried in debris in the earthquake in southwestern Sichuan Province. Full story

Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

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