Sharon Defends Raid, Regrets Civilian Deaths

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended an Israeli raid that killed 16 Palestinians in Khan Yunis and promised further strikes in the Gaza Strip despite international condemnation.

But Sharon expressed regret for the civilian casualties in the Monday attack.

Palestinian officials called the assault a massacre, saying all of the dead and most of the 80 wounded were civilians.

Israel said that most of those killed were gunmen. The U.S. criticized the attack.