Netanyahu asks cabinet to quit Sharon's Govt

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his cabinet ministers on Tuesday to quit Ariel Sharon's government.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his cabinet ministers on Tuesday to quit Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government, a spokesman said.

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The ministers, including Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, will hand in their letters of resignation at Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, said Ofir Akunis, Netanyahu's spokesman.

Sharon is expected to appoint new cabinet ministers from his centrist Kadima party to replace the outgoing Likud ministers. Israeli radios reported it is likely that Shimon Peres will be appointed Foreign Minister.

Netanyahu was elected last month to head the Likud Party after Sharon quit the hard-line faction and formed a new centrist party.

Despite reported opposition from Likud cabinet ministers, Netanyahu followed through on a pledge to quit Sharon's government if elected to lead Likud.

Sharon's appointments to the cabinet after the Likud ministers quit will give an idea of what a future Sharon-led government would look like.