China has condemned the killing of Chinese nationals in the Central African Republic (CAR) outside the capital, Bangui, by militants.
According to a foreign ministry statement, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “severe punishment” for the perpetrators.
The mayor of central Bembari town told AFP that they “counted nine bodies and two wounded” in the attack on Sunday at 05:00 (0300 GMT).
The victims are said to have been working in a Gold Coast Group goldmine.
Following the killings, the Chinese embassy in Bangui has urged citizens to avoid leaving the capital, raising the alert level to very high.
It stated that its government would collaborate with embassies and governments to protect its citizens in African countries.
It comes on the heels of several recent attacks on Chinese nationals abroad.
Since the outbreak of a civil war in 2013, the Central African Republic has been plagued by violence and insecurity.
