Labour refuses Sharon offer

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon failed yesterday to persuade Labour Party chief Amram Mitzna to join a broad coalition government.

"Sharon laid out his standard line, so Mitzna had no reason to go for it," a Labour spokeswoman said at the end of the first talks between the two since Mr Sharon's Likud party crushed centre-left Labour in January 28 elections.

"Labour will now lead from the opposition, as it intended to do," the spokeswoman said.