ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's scandal-ridden campaign for re-election showed signs of recovery in opinion polls published yesterday following a weekend surge in Middle East violence.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dismissed as "despicable libel" allegations about his involvement in a financial scandal that has cast a shadow over the upcoming Israeli election.

Israeli officials, faced with an international outcry and a definitive ruling by the attorney general, have admitted that they cannot legally deport relatives of suicide bombers unless they are directly linked to attacks.