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'Close vote' for Israel's Labour Barak to lead Israel Labour party
(about 4 hours later)
Labour, the second party in Israel's ruling coalition, has been electing a new leader in a knife-edge poll which could lead to major political change. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has won the country's Labour party leadership vote, officials from both camps have said.
Exit polls suggest army chief and ex-PM Ehud Barak and ex-navy and intelligence chief Ami Ayalon, a political novice, are running neck-and-neck. Although votes are still being counted, Mr Barak is expected to emerge victorious by only a slight margin over ex-security chief Ami Ayalon.
Incumbent Amir Peretz, who was heavily criticised after the 2006 Lebanon war, was knocked out in the first round.Incumbent Amir Peretz, who was heavily criticised after the 2006 Lebanon war, was knocked out in the first round.
Both candidates want PM Ehud Olmert to resign over his handling of the war.Both candidates want PM Ehud Olmert to resign over his handling of the war.
However, correspondents say neither Mr Barak nor Mr Ayalon is likely to bring down the coalition led by Mr Olmert's Kadima party, as opinion polls indicate the right-wing Likud opposition would win in the event of a general election. "It seems that Ehud Barak won the elections, and both sides agree on this," Labour party general secretary Eitan Cabel, from Mr Barak's camp, told the AFP news agency.
Mr Barak cast his vote north of Tel Aviv, where he made a brief statement to journalists. Former party general secretary Nissim Zvili, who had sided with Mr Ayalon, said: "We can see that Barak appears to have won the vote."
"I call on voters to think about who is better to lead the country in a time of war and who has the most courage to make peace," he said. The election will be decided by several hundred votes to this or that side Labour official Nissim Zvili class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6699741.stm">Profiles: Barak and Ayalon
Casting his vote in Haifa, Mr Ayalon said: "Those who want a new way for the Labour party should vote for me." Earlier, correspondents said neither Mr Barak nor Mr Ayalon are likely to bring down the coalition led by Mr Olmert's Kadima party, as opinion polls indicate the right-wing Likud opposition would be likely to win in the event of a general election.
Polls opened at 0630 GMT for the party's 103,000 registered members at 313 polling stations, and closed at 1800. Mr Barak, casting his vote north of Tel Aviv, said: "I call on voters to think about who is better to lead the country in a time of war and who has the most courage to make peace."
Exit polls showed Mr Barak with a slight lead over his rival, polling between 50% and 52%. Mr Ayalon, who voted in Haifa, said: "Those who want a new way for the Labour party should vote for me."
But pollsters said this lead could be reversed by actual voting. Exit polls showed Mr Barak with a slight lead over his rival, polling between 50% and 52%, after the party's 103,000 registered members had their chance to vote.
The election will be decided by several hundred votes to this or that side Labour official Nissim Zvili class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6699741.stm">Profiles: Barak and Ayalon The final results may not be published until Wednesday. The final results may not be published until Wednesday.
Both candidates say they want to replace Mr Peretz as defence minister, a role that he took, unusually in Israeli politics, despite not having had a military career.Both candidates say they want to replace Mr Peretz as defence minister, a role that he took, unusually in Israeli politics, despite not having had a military career.
"The race is very close, and the election will be decided by several hundred votes to this or that side," senior party official Nissim Zvili said in remarks quoted by AFP news agency.
The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says Mr Barak carries the weight of political experience and the distinction of being Israel's most highly decorated soldier.
But many blame him, at least in part, for his role in the failed negotiations with the Palestinians seven years ago, which preceded a particularly bloody period of Palestinian-Israeli violence.
Mr Ayalon, former director of Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, has only been in the Israeli parliament for a year.
He is regarded as potentially more adventurous in his efforts to pursue peace with the Palestinians.