BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton on Sunday, expressing concerns over Chinese nationals killed and injured in Friday's Binghamton shooting rampage.

    According to preliminary investigation results, four Chinese women were among the people killed in the shooting and another Chinese national was injured.

The American Civic Association is cordoned off in Binghamton, New York, the United States, April 4, 2009. Chinese are among the dead in Binghamton Shooting, Chinese consulate cities police sources. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Photo Gallery>>>

    "This was a very serious incident and the Chinese government is deeply concerned about it," Yang said.

    "We grieve over the death of the Chinese nationals and other victims, and our condolences go to the injured people as well as the victims' families," he said.

    China hopes the United States will properly handle the matters concerning the Chinese victims, offer immediate medical treatment to the injured Chinese, and provide the victims' families with timely and sufficient assistance as well as convenience to get visas to America, Yang said.

    The Chinese Embassy and the Consulate-General in New York are both making urgent contacts with the U.S. side over the issue, he added.

    Yang also urged the U.S. to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Chinese nationals and their properties in the United States.

    Clinton, for her part, extended condolences to the Chinese victims and their families.

    She said the shooting was a tragedy and investigations have been underway into the cause.

    The United States will be serious with China's requests, she said, pledging all efforts to offer medical treatment to the injured Chinese and to provide the victims' families with timely and comprehensive assistance to get visas to her country.

    Thirteen people were killed and four others wounded Friday in the shooting spree by a lone gunman at an immigrant services centre in downtown Binghamton, New York.

    Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan described the shooting as "a tragedy that affects many different people from many different countries and their families and friends."

    There have been inquires from nine different countries and two different consulates, Ryan told a press conference.

4 Chinese nationals among dead in New York state shooting

    BINGHAMTON, United States, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Four Chinese nationals were among the people killed Friday in a shooting spree by a lone gunman at an immigrant services centre in downtown Binghamton, New York, a Chinese diplomat said Saturday.

    Deputy Consul General Shi Yong said Binghamton police notified the Chinese Consulate-General in New York that four Chinese nationals were among those killed in Friday's shooting. Their identities were being established and could be released as early as Sunday.  Full story

Chinese diplomats: Chinese student injured in U.S. shooting in stable condition

    BINGHAMTON, the United States, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese student injured in Friday's shooting in Binghamton was still being treated in a local hospital but in stable condition without life danger, Chinese diplomats said Friday.  Full story

Chinese Deputy Consul General in New York Shi Yong is interviewed in Binghamton, the United States, on April 4, 2009. Four Chinese nationals were among the people killed Friday in a shooting spree by a lone gunman at an immigrant services center in downtown Binghamton, Shi Yong said here Saturday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) Photo Gallery>>>

14 killed, four wounded in U.S. shooting rampage

    NEW YORK, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen people, including a suspected gunman, were killed and at least four others wounded in a shooting rampage that broke out in Binghamton of the U.S. state of New York on Friday morning, local authorities said in the afternoon.

Journalists wait near the shooting scene of the American Civic Center in Binghampton, New York, April 3, 2009. (Xinhua/Yu Jun) Photo Gallery>>>

    The gunman entered the building of the American Civic Association (ACA), a non-governmental agency that provides services for immigrants and refugees, and started shooting at the people inside, Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said at a press conference held nearly seven hours after the attack.  Full story