Israeli opposition wins big in trade-union voting

Israel's opposition Labor Party celebrated a victory in trade union elections which it hoped could presage a return to national power in the general elections on June 30. But while Labor's lead over the rival Likud bloc was extensive -- 64 percent against 25 percent -- Labor leaders acknowledged they had no cause for overconfidence about the June contest.

"I think we have a fair chance of repeating the result in June, but it will not be an automatic repetition," said Shi mon Peres, who will be prime minister if Labor wins in June.