Livni's coalition efforts dealt setback

Leaders of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party say they have rejected conditions set for forming a coalition government.

The Israeli foreign minister and prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, left, attends a Kadima party gathering near Tel Aviv on Oct 23 2008.
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Leaders of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party said today they had rejected conditions set by the ruling Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni to join a coalition government. The decision was taken by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader, after consultation the party's supreme authority, Shas said. Yesterday, Ms Livni set an ultimatum for her Kadima party's potential coalition partners, saying if there was no agreement on a coalition by a Sunday deadline she would call a snap general election.

*AFP