Hu Offers Sympathy for Dead Tourist, Boosts Security

Chinese President Hu Jintao offered sympathy to U.S. President George W.Bush for yesterday's stabbing in Beijing of two American tourists related to a U.S. Olympic coach.

The Olympic host will ramp up security after the father-in- law of the U.S. men's indoor volleyball coach was killed and his wife wounded yesterday. The U.S. embassy called the assault an ``isolated'' incident unconnected to the Games.

``I want to take this opportunity to express profound sympathy to the families,'' Hu said. ``The Chinese side takes this very seriously,'' and will ``carry out a very serious investigation.'' Bush thanked Hu for his condolences as the two met today.

The murder on the first day of Beijing's Olympic Games cast a shadow on the world's largest sports event as China's government seeks to project the image of a progressive and peaceful nation to an estimated 4 billion television viewers globally. As many as 500,000 tourists are likely to visit the Chinese capital during the Olympics, which run through Aug. 24.

Todd Bachman was killed when a man wielding a knife attacked him, his wife, daughter and a Chinese guide at noon yesterday at the Drum Tower in central Beijing.

Bachman's wife, Barbara, 62, remained in a critical though stable condition at a Beijing hospital after eight hours of surgery, the U.S. Olympic Committee said today.