Sharon calls for January elections

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU was approved as Israel's foreign minister yesterday, bringing him into the Cabinet of the man he seeks to succeed as prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

Opinion polls gave Sharon the edge in their rivalry and also suggested Sharon's right-wing Likud party would make strong gains over the moderate Labour Party in the January election that Sharon called a day earlier, sending Israel into a turbulent campaign.

Before the general vote, both parties will hold primaries to choose a leader and candidate for prime minister.