January 1, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 27, 1423

TEL AVIV, Dec 31: Hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday dimissed a deputy minister caught up in a cash-for-votes scandal.

“The prime minister fired (Deputy Infrastructure Minister) Naomi Blumenthal this evening,” said Sharon spokesman Ranaan Gissin.

Blumenthal had refused to answer questions about whether she had paid luxury hotel bills for Likud central committee members in return for their vote to secure her a high place on the party’s list of candidates.—AFP