Funerals focus Gaza fury

Thousands of Palestinians are on the streets for the funerals of 15 people, including the military leader of the radical group Hamas, Sheikh Salah Shahada, who were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza.
Many waved Hamas flags and carried rifles as they vented their rage at the deaths of civilians, many of them children.

About 140 people were injured in the strike

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said: "This was an ugly crime, a massacre that no one who is sane or who has a conscience can imagine".

He urged the international community to stop "these crimes against our people" which, he said, came at a time when there were positive initiatives for peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - who reportedly gave his personal approval for the air strike - expressed regret for the deaths of civilians but hailed the operation as "a great success".

The attack has been met with strong condemnation from around the world, including the United Nations and European Union.

US President George W Bush has described the attack as a "heavy handed" action which "does not contribute to peace".

"The president has said before that Israel has to be mindful of the consequences of its actions," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Nine children were among those killed in the overnight missile attack on a residential building in Gaza City. About 140 people were injured and local officials said that more people could be buried under the rubble.

Israeli officials said the strike was a reaction to the death of dozens of Israelis in recent suicide attacks.

Shahada was the founder of Hamas' military wing and reported to be number one on Israel's list of most wanted militants in Gaza.