HIGHLIGHTS: Attack an Act of Sabotage, Says Mubarak||Mubarak & Chirac Discuss Iraq & Sudan||Mubarak Now in Spain, is to Meet Prime Minister Aznar & King Juan Carlos Later Friday|| STORY: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday condemned an Israel air strike that killed 15 people in Gaza City, most of them children as "abominable," and accused Israel's prime minister of ordering the assault to sabotage peace efforts.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon "must understand that if there is no peace, that it's guaranteed ruin for everyone, not just for the Palestinians, but for the Israeli people themselves, because they will not be able to live normally," Mubarak said after meeting French President Jacques Chirac.

Before Tuesday's strike, approaches had been made toward the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas aimed at halting Palestinian-Israeli bloodshed, the Egyptian leader said, without giving details.

Mubarak added that Palestinian initiatives were also underway and that he himself recently had talks with Israel's defense minister.

Then "there was this abominable strike at Gaza," he said.

"This shows that the Israeli prime minister was doubtless not happy with these initiatives and efforts and said to himself, `I'll carry out this attack at Gaza to sabotage all these efforts,'" Mubarak said.

Chirac also said France "clearly expressed its condemnation" of the attack.

Chirac and Mubarak said they also discussed Iraq and Sudan, but gave no details. Chirac said Iraq should accept the unconditional return of U.N. arms inspectors.

Mubarak's visit is part of a flurry of Middle East diplomacy involving France. Chirac is to hold talks with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Friday and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on Monday.

France and Egypt share similar views on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, particularly regarding the role of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat whom they consider vital to attaining peace.

Later Thursday, Mubarak arrived in Spain for a two-day visit during which he will hold talks on the Middle East with King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

PHOTO CAPTION

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) speaks with French President Jacques Chirac during a press conference outside the Elysee Palace July 26, 2002.. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
- Jul 25 10:10 AM ET