China has condemned the killing of Chinese nationals by militants in Central African Republic (CAR) outside the capital, Bangui.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “severe punishment” for the perpetrators, a statement from the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The mayor of the central Bembari town told the AFP news agency that they “counted nine bodies and two wounded” in the attack at 05:00 (0300 GMT) on Sunday.

The victims are said to have been working in a goldmine run by the Gold Coast Group

The Chinese embassy in Bangui has urged citizens to avoid travelling outside the capital following the killings, raising the alert levels to very high.

It said its government would work with embassies and governments to safeguard its citizens in African countries

It comes amid several attacks on Chinese nationals abroad in recent months.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by violence and insecurity since a civil war broke out in 2013.

Source: BBC