China warns citizens in Algeria of al Qaeda threat

By Lucy Hornby

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has warned its citizens in Algeria about possible attacks from al Qaeda in retribution for a Chinese government crackdown in the Muslim region of Xinjiang, as it upped the death toll from this month's ethnic riots.

The Chinese embassy in Algeria on its website urged all Chinese people and organisations to be more aware of safety precautions and to strengthen security measures "in consideration of the situation after the July 5 incident in Urumqi."

The warning came after London risk consultancy Stirling Assynt said in a report to clients that al Qaeda might target Chinese workers in northwest Africa, citing "chatter" after the July 5 ethnic riots in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.

"China has been reminding overseas Chinese to pay attention to their safety and enhance self protection," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters on Tuesday when asked to comment on the report.

"China will take any necessary measure to protect the safety of Chinese organisations and citizens overseas."

A diplomat, Shao, at the Chinese embassy in Algiers told Reuters: "We do believe that security has improved a lot in Algeria and we will rely on Algerian security forces to protect our people."

In the Philippines, which is battling a Muslim insurgency in its south, the government has ordered security to be tightened around the Chinese embassy and consulates, said Andres Caro, head of the national police directorate.

Caro said police had asked intelligence units to investigate threats against China's interests after Liu Zhongxiang, China's defence attache in Manila, requested police assistance to guard the embassy and consular offices.