Barak 'will not serve in Sharon government'

In a dramatic turnaround that may affect the possibilities of setting up a broad government in Israel, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak informed Ariel Sharon late last night that he would not serve as defence minister, an aide said.

Barak sent a letter to Sharon, who trounced him in an election on February 6. Sharon is trying to set up a national unity government with his Likud and Barak’s Labour parties.