NEWS BRIEFS

Angry Shiites Vow to Avenge Assassination

BEIRUT, Lebanon--Angry Shiite Muslims took to the streets of Beirut on Monday, vowing to avenge Israel's assassination of the leader of the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah. But Israel warned that any retaliatory raids would carry "a very high price."

The Lebanese government, apparently anticipating more violence in the predominantly Shiite south after Sunday's killing of Sheik Abbas Musawi, sent army reinforcements to the area. It also lodged a complaint with the U.N. Security Council over the Israeli attack.

But Lebanon said it still planned to attend the Middle East peace talks scheduled to begin next Monday in Washington. The Palestinians also indicated they would attend, despite two other Israeli attacks Sunday that targeted refugee camps and PLO bases in south Lebanon.

But the Palestinians later hinted this could change, following the arrest of delegation member Jamal Shobaki by Israeli authorities Sunday night. Why Shobaki was arrested was not immediately clear.. NATION

Court Sentences Dahmer to Life in Prison

MILWAUKEE--Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to life in prison Monday after some relatives of his 15 victims called him a devil and he told the judge, "I know society will never be able to forgive me."

Dahmer was stone-faced and spoke in a low monotone as he described his crimes not as acts of hate but the work of a sick man.

"I take all the blame for what I did," he said.

Moments before, nine relatives of Dahmer's victims, many wearing picture pins of their loved ones, described the pain they have suffered because he killed, butchered and had sex with the corpses of their family members.

The hysterical sister of victim Errol Lindsey shouted "Satan!" at Dahmer and screamed, "Jeffrey, I hate you!!" as she lunged toward him, shaking her first and shouting obscenities. She was led away.

A jury decided Saturday that Dahmer, 31, was sane when he killed 15 young men and boys he lured to his home. Dahmer pleaded guilty but insane.

The former chocolate factory worker confessed to 17 slayings since 1978 after his arrest last July. He is to stand trial in an Ohio killing, and wasn't charged in one Milwaukee death because of lack of evidence. REGION

Official Endorses Condom Distribution

BOSTON--Boston Health and Hospitals Commissioner Judith Kurland says condoms should be made available to students at the city's public high schools beginning in September.

In a draft report released Sunday, Ms. Kurland calls for establishing health clinics in every high school and permitting health professionals to make condoms available to sexually active teen-agers.

The report said school health counselors should urge students to refrain from or reduce sexual activity and to warn them of possible emotional damage.

But, Ms. Kurland said, "I don't think we can wait to see whether it works."

Students "are at risk of death, and people shouldn't forget that that's what AIDS is about. This is an emergency," she said.

"We have to make sure that those children who are going to have sex anyway take as many precautions as they can," she said.