Quake tremor rocks eastern Sicily

  CATANIA, Sicily -- Authorities were checking for damage Wednesday after a strong earthquake tremor measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale rocked eastern Sicily, sending thousands of residents racing into the streets, firefighters said.

 Nobody was reported hurt after the tremor Tuesday evening at 9:27 p.m. Firemen were checking cracks in an eight-storey building in the town of Gela in Caltanisetta province.
 In Licata hundreds of people left their homes to head for large piazzas where they could be safer if the tremor heralded a major quake.
 jp