BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday extended condolences to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev over a fatal plane accident which occurred Monday in northwestern Russia.

Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, mourned those killed in the accident, offered sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and wished the injured an early recovery.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, on the same day, sent condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the accident.

Latest reports said a total of 44 people were killed and another eight severely injured, when a Russian Tu-134 passenger plane crash-landed near Petrozavodsk, capital of Russia's Republic of Karelie.