More countries extend condolences over China's cruise tragedy

More foreign leaders have sent messages of condolences to China over the June 1 cruise ship tragedy on the country's largest river, as the death toll from the mishap rose to 434 on Monday.

Among those extending sympathy and condolences were: Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Mongolian Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, Hungarian President Janos Ader, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma, Cote d'Ivoire's President Allassane Dramane Ouattarra, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, Comorian President Ikililou Dhoinine, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, and Cape Verde's Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves.

In addition, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Ethiopia, Zambia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro and other countries, as well as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, have also sent their condolences to the Chinese government and people over the mishap.

The Eastern Star cruise ship, carrying 456 people onboard, was on an 11-day trip along the Yangtze River when it was overturned by a tornado on the night of June 1 in Jianli, central China's Hubei Province. Rescuers have found 14 survivors and eight people remained missing. Endi