African Union condemns Israel's Lebanon bombing

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 1 (Reuters) The African Union (AU) today condemned what it described as Israel's indiscriminate bombing which killed 54 civilians, including 37 children, in the Lebanese village of Qana.

''The Chairman of the Commission of the African Union, Alpha Omar Konare, condemns in the strongest terms the bombing of Qana, which cannot be justified under any circumstances,'' the AU said in a statement.

The Israeli air strike sparked international outrage.

At least 598 people have been killed in Lebanon, although the health minister puts the toll at 750 including bodies still buried under rubble.

Fifty-one Israelis have been killed in the violence ignited by Hizbollah's July 12 capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.

REUTERS MQA KP1438