More leaders and senior officials from foreign countries have visited Chinese embassies, consulates or missions to offer condolences to the quake victims on Wednesday, the last day of China's three-day official mourning period.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the foreign minister went to the Chinese embassy in Liberia to express their heartfelt condolences to the victims of the earthquake that hit the province of Sichuan, in southwest China on May 12.

Sirleaf wrote in the condolence book that "we would like to extend the deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake as well as heartfelt sympathy to their families and to Chinese President Hu Jintao in the name of the Liberian people."

Sirleaf said they were greatly impressed by the Chinese government's quick response to the deadly quake and the unity among the Chinese people.

Zanzibar's President Amani Abeid Karume went to the consulate general in Zanzibar Wednesday to mourn the earthquake victims. He wrote in the condolence book that "we mourn the quake victims together with our Chinese brothers and sisters. May the victims rest in peace."

Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar and the President of Chamber of Deputies Arlindo Chinaglia also went to the Chinese embassy Wednesday to pay tribute to the earthquake victims.

Alencar said that Brazil will keep a close eye on the efforts China has made in rescuing its people's lives and property and he believed that the quake-affected people will soon resume their normal lives.

Chinaglia expressed deep condolences to the quake victims on behalf of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, saying the effective rescue and relief work will surely help and bring comfort to the people in the quake-affected areas.

The Brazilian people can feel the pain of the Chinese people and will always stand by their side, he added.

Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsany Ferenc and Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz visited the Chinese embassy on Wednesday to pay tribute to the dead.

Ferenc wrote in the condolence book "please allow me to express our sincere condolences and sympathy to the Chinese government and the people in my own name and on behalf of the Hungarian government."

Goncz expressed the deepest sympathy to the Chinese people in the name of the Republic of Hungary and its people, saying that she felt grateful for the efforts made to ease people's pain and suffering.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek also expressed his condolences and sympathy to the earthquake victims in China while visiting the Chinese embassy. Topolanek said the Czech Republic is ready to offer assistance in the post-disaster construction in the quake-affected areas.

Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Parliament Petar Beron went to the Chinese embassy Wednesday to express sympathy to the dead, saying the quake is a terrible disaster, which, however, will finally be conquered by the Chinese people and government.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs Shri E. Ahamed offered deep sorrow over the huge loss of human lives and property during the earthquake, while expressing the belief that the Chinese people will overcome this major disaster.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekunas also extended the deepest condolences and sympathy to the Chinese people over the huge loss of human lives and property during the earthquake.

He said the major earthquake has posed a grave challenge to the Chinese people, who, he believed, will face the disaster with great courage and successfully overcome it.

Icelandic Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir told Chinese embassy officials that as a country frequently hit by earthquakes itself, Iceland totally understands the difficulties and pain caused by earthquakes. Iceland will try its best to help China with earthquake rescue work, she added.

Belarussian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov, Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev and other officials and foreign diplomats also showed respect for the quake-victims.

Belarus on Monday pledged 20 tons of humanitarian aid to China.

More than 50,000 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the earthquake and another 277,028 people were injured in Sichuan Province alone as of 4:00 PM Beijing time (0900 GMT) Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)