China's rush to control news of stabbed Americans hints at sensitivities

HONG KONG -- An apparent initial effort by Chinese authorities to suppress news about the stabbing of four American instructors on its soil earlier this week highlights concern for fragile U.S. ties, experts said.

Four foreign nationals were attacked in a park in the northeastern city of Jilin around noon on Monday. They were later identified as instructors from Cornell College in the state of Iowa who are teaching at a local university, according to a notice published by the local police late on Tuesday afternoon.