Israel condemned

　　BEIJING: China condemns a deadly attack against civilians during a Israeli military strike in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said yesterday.

　　Meanwhile, undeterred by U.S. criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon praised the strike as a success and said there would be more such operations.

　　Israel said the raid, which left 14 Palestinians dead and more than 100 wounded, was meant to put members of the Islamic militant group Hamas on notice that they could no longer feel safe.

　　Attack on Iraq

　　WASHINGTON: The House and Senate prepared to take a step toward war by giving President Bush authority to use military force against Iraq’s Saddam Hussei, whom the president labeled a “homicidal dictator” and the world’s greatest threat to peace. Both houses were to begin formal debate Tuesday.

　　Missile test

　　ISLAMABAD: With border tension running high in South Asia, nuclear-armed Pakistan test-fired a medium-range surface-to-surface missile yesterday, its second in less than a week.

　　The launch of the nuclear-capable Shaheen missile was part of a series of tests that began Friday. State-controlled Pakistan Television said Tuesday’s test completed the series.

　　Man U wins

　　MANCHESTER: Paul Scholes scored twice and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored another in the final five minutes as Manchester United defeated Everton 3-0 Monday in the Englsih Premier League.

　　Sunderland fires Reid

　　SUNDERLAND: Peter Reid became the first Premier League manager fired this season when Sunderland parted company Monday with a manager it hired in 1995.