Peres to quit Labour to back Sharon

ELDER statesman Shimon Peres looks set to leave Israel’s Labour Party, his political home for 60 years, and join Ariel Sharon’s government if the prime minister is re-elected in March.

A Sharon associate and newspaper reports said Mr Peres would likely be charged with developing the outlying Galilee and the Negev regions if Sharon retains power.

In Barcelona yesterday, Mr Peres refused to be drawn out. "I shall decide tomorrow night," he said.