New Israeli defence chief

The Israeli Labour Party has chosen Binyamin Ben Eliezer, a former general, for the coveted post of defence minister in the new government.

A party official announced that Iraqi-born Mr Ben Eliezer won 44.9% of the vote at a meeting of the party's central committee, beating two other candidates.

Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon promised Labour the powerful foreign and defence ministries and six others in a bid to woo the party to join his planned left-right unity government.

The foreign minister will be former prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres, the only candidate for the post.