Barak wins Labour leadership in Israel

Ehud Barak, the former Israeli prime minister tossed out of office six years ago in a humiliating election defeat, won the leadership of the dovish Labour Party today in a dramatic political comeback.

Mr Barak now begins the race for the real prize – a return to the nation’s top job, which he held for less than two years. But he is expected to bide his time, first remaining in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s coalition government to burnish his leadership credentials.