Sharon wins key parliamentary vote

Israel's moderate opposition Labour Party backed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in a crucial parliamentary vote yesterday, a day after he was cleared of corruption charges - boosting Sharon's Gaza pullout plan.

Meanwhile, Israel contractors were forced to halt construction of a section of a West Bank separation barrier after clashes erupted between soldiers and hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators.

In Nablus, Israeli forces arrested two girls, aged 14 and 15, suspected of planning a suicide bomb attack.

Middle East