Key ministers resign from Israeli government

The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak, has begun urgent efforts to save his coalition government, after the resignations of four cabinet ministers from the country's largest religious party.

Mr Barak's majority in parliament will disappear if the ultra-orthodox Shas party carries out its threat to withdraw, after a statutory forty-eight hours' notice expires.

The party is in dispute with the government over the funding of religious schools.

Just hours after receiving the resignations, Mr Barak held talks with Shas leaders and his own party officials, but there's no word on any progress.

The crisis comes at a critical stage in the Middle East peace process: an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is due to be reached by September.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service