An armored personnel carrier patrols the streets of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, on Wednesday. China's Foreign Ministry has said it is monitoring the situation.[Photo/Xinhua]

Foreign Ministry urges parties in 'friendly' nation to handle matters

China said on Wednesday it is closely following the situation in Zimbabwe and hopes the African nation will properly handle its internal affairs.

The ruling party in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe African National Union－Patriotic Front, said in Twitter posts on Wednesday that there was "a bloodless transition" and suggested President Robert Mugabe had been detained. It said the army had not staged a coup and the situation was stable.

"As a country that is friendly with Zimbabwe, we are paying close attention to developments of the situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news briefing.

Geng said maintaining peaceful and stable development is in line with the fundamental interests of Zimbabwe and regional countries and is the common desire of the international community, adding that China hopes the parties in Zimbabwe appropriately handle their internal matters.

He also said a trip to Beijing last week by Zimbabwe's military chief was a "normal military exchange" in response to questions about whether Zimbabwe Defense Forces commander Constantino Chiwenga briefed Chinese officials on plans for the takeover in Zimbabwe.

In a warning issued on Wednesday, which is valid through May 14, the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe urged Chinese citizens there to watch out for their safety.