Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China     

    BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's sports chief on Tuesday sent his condolences to victims of the deadly earthquake in southwest China.

    Moss Mashishi, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, told Xinhua his deep concerns and sympathy go to the quake victims.

    A strong quake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Wenchuan in Sichuan province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday.

    The tremor was felt in many other parts of the country. The disaster had caused more than 12,000 reported deaths by Tuesday evening in Sichuan alone.

    Mashishi said he believed the social order and people's life in the quake-stricken areas can be restored as soon as possible since the Chinese government is sparing no effort in disaster relief.

    He expected the Beijing Games to be a big success despite the massive earthquake.