More world organizations extended condolences to China over tens of thousands of earthquake victims as all Chinese were observing a three-day mourning period from Monday through Wednesday to pay respect to the dead.

Rogelio Pfirter, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Wednesday went to the Chinese embassy in The Hague to mourn the dead on behalf of his organization and expressed his appreciation for the Chinese government's rescue work.

Pfirter was in Beijing when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province on May 12 and witnessed the Chinese government's swift response to the natural disaster.

In his conversation with the Chinese ambassador, Pfirter saluted the Chinese government for its rapid, orderly and appropriate measures.

He also appreciated the persistence and unity of the Chinese people in face of the tremendous disaster. Pfirter expressed confidence that the Chinese people will finally overcome the catastrophe and rebuild their homes.

On the same day, Director General of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia, Secretary General of the International Civil Defense Organization Nawaf Al Sleibi, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang, Vice Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Philippe Petit, and the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross in China, Thierry Meyrat, visited the Chinese diplomatic missions to the United Nations and other world organizations in Switzerland.

On behalf of the organizations and the staff they represent, they expressed condolences over the victims of the major earthquake which was epicentered at Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, and extended sincere solace to the Chinese government and people.

Beside the international groups, many world countries, political parties and media also showed sympathy with the victims of the devastating earthquake.

Forty-three embassies of other countries in Belgium like Japan, Israel, Canada, Thailand, Gabon and Switzerland as well as overseas Chinese groups and ventures sent their representatives to the Chinese embassy in Belgium to mourn the quake victims.

They praised the Chinese government and the military for their efficient rescue efforts, holding that the affected population will finally overcome the difficulties, restore their normal life, and reconstruct the quake-hit area under the leadership of the Chinese government and with the support of all Chinese people.

First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Youth League, Julio Martinez, said Tuesday that the Cuban youth were in disposition for whatever the Chinese people need.

"We can't do less, but to offer our sympathy and support in these difficult moments that your homeland is suffering," reads a letter of condolences that Martinez gave Chinese Ambassador of Cuba Zhao Rongxian.

Abdalla Hassan, chairman and editor-in-chief of the official Egyptian news agency MENA, on Wednesday visited the Chinese embassy in Egypt and expressed condolences to the victims of the deadly earthquake.

Hassan signed the condolence book with remarks of deep sorrow to the Chinese people and sympathy to the heavy casualties and huge losses caused by the deadly earthquake.

He expressed his belief that the Chinese people led by the Chinese government will overcome the disaster.

Alexandria Governor Adel Labib on Wednesday came to the Chinese Consulate in Alexandria to express his sympathy with China's quake victims.

Salah Mahmoud, head of the Egyptian National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, hailed in a phone interview with Xinhua the Chinese government's earthquake relief efforts, noting the Chinese people are doing their best.

A total of 40,854 people have been confirmed dead in last week's massive earthquake in Sichuan and another 263,395 people injured as of 4:00 PM (0800 GMT) Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)