Tuesday 3rd June, 2008 7

Ariel Sharon's Olmert, Abbas meeting son to be released from overshadowed by Israeli's prison early for good behavior

political woes, east JERUSALEM (AP) - Justice Ministry officials say 's son will be released from prison early for good behavior. Omri Sharon, son of 's ex- Jerusalem building Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was sentenced to a seven-month prison JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Olmert took hundreds of thousands of term in late February. He was con- Minister Ehud Olmert is getting togeth- dollars in cash from American Jewish Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, center, attends a meeting of his party victed of campaign funding viola- at the Ammunition hill historic site in Jerusalem, Sunday, June 1, 2008. Israel dis- er with Palestinian President donors - including large sums to sus- tions. closed plans on Sunday to build nearly 900 new homes for Jews in disputed east Mahmoud Abbas on Monday to talk tain a lavish lifestyle - have provoked Jerusalem, adding new turmoil to peace talks already troubled by Prime Minister Tal Vider, a Justice Ministry peace before heading out on a U.S. trip unprecedented public censure and open Ehud Olmert's corruption probe. (AP) spokesman, said Sharon asked soured by mounting calls for his ouster. rebellion by former political allies. Sunday to have his sentence reduced Olmert is up against the toughest The backlash has led to efforts Olmert has denied any wrong- leader was set to fly to Washington on grounds of good behavior. political test of his career, following within his Kadima Party and coali- doing and said he would resign only for talks with U.S. President George In keeping with customary prac- hours of explosive testimony against tion partner Labor to unseat him, a if indicted. W. Bush and to address AIPAC, the tice, the sentence was cut by one- him by the key witness in a corruption move that could derail already fal- His spokesman, Mark Regev, influential pro-Israel lobbying third. He'll now be released on June probe. Amid the political tumult, tering peacemaking if early elec- would not disclose the Israeli agen- group. 25 instead of late September. Olmert has been trying to project a tions are called. Polls indicate that da for Monday's talks with Abbas, Olmert and Abbas resumed Prosecutors said Omri Sharon "business-as-usual" image, including if elections were held today, opposi- saying only that "direct conversa- peace talks last November at a sum- illictly took $1.3 million (euro890,000) holding one of his frequent meetings tion leader Benjamin Netanyahu, tions between the two leaders is an mit hosted by Bush, who hopes to to fund his father's campaign to head with Abbas. who takes a hard line against the important part of the process." broker a peace blueprint before the right-wing Party in 1999. The witness' contention that Palestinians, would sweep to power. After the meeting, the Israeli leaving office early next year. That sum violated funding ceilings.

Cambodia's soldiers stand in front of M35A2 Saudi clerics accuse Shiites of destabilizing GMC cargo trucks during the handing over at Muslim countries, blast Hezbollah Cambodia Army Military Airport in Phnom Penh, RIYADH, Saudi Arabia trary to official policy - high- against Jews and Cambodia, Monday, June (AP) - Hardline Sunni cler- light the sharp, growing dis- Americans. 2, 2008. The United States ics accused Shiites Sunday trust between Islam's two The statement appeared on Monday delivered 31 of destabilizing Muslim arms, and its potential to on several Web sites Sunday, used trucks to Cambodia, countries and humiliating cause more unrest. including al-Moslim, which its first direct supply of Sunnis, just days before a In a strongly worded is run by Sheik Nasser al- military hardware there Muslim interfaith confer- statement, the 22 clerics sav- Omar, one of the signatories. since Washington lifted ence called by Saudi Arabia's aged the Iranian-backed The 22 clerics are known for an embargo three years king. Shiite Hezbollah in Lebanon, their radical views and have ago. (AP) The attacks on Iran, Iraq saying it has tricked previously released virulent and Hezbollah - though con- Muslims into believing it is ant-Shiite statements.