FRANCE ON SUNDAY CONDEMNED AN EARLY MORNING ISRAELI RAID ON THE SOUTHERN LEBANESE TOWN OF QANA _ THE DEADLIEST YET IN THE CONFLICT _ CALLING IT UNJUSTIFIABLE AND DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, ACCORDING TO AP. FRANCE'S HEALTH MINISTER DELAYED A VISIT TO LEBANON SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY BECAUSE OF THE ATTACK ON QANA, AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER KEPT UP HIS CRITICISM OF THE U.S. RESISTANCE TO A CEASE-FIRE. PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC LEARNED «WITH DISMAY OF THE ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT COST THE LIVES OF NUMEROUS INNOCENT VICTIMS, NOTABLY WOMAN AND CHILDREN, IN QANA OVERNIGHT,» HIS OFFICE SAID IN A STATEMENT. «FRANCE CONDEMNS THIS UNJUSTIFIABLE ACTION, WHICH SHOWS MORE THAN EVER THE NEED TO MOVE TOWARD AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE, WITHOUT WHICH OTHER SUCH DRAMAS CAN ONLY BE REPEATED,» IT SAID. MANY OF THE AT LEAST 56 VICTIMS APPEARED TO BE CHILDREN KILLED AFTER ISRAELI MISSILES FLATTENED HOUSES IN QANA WHILE RESIDENTS SLEPT.
