TEL AVIV, March 27: Israel's chief prosecutor will recommend to the attorney general that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should be indicted in a long-running corruption case, a television network said on Saturday.

The network said State Attorney Edna Arbel had concluded there were sufficient grounds to charge Mr Sharon with bribery in connection with a real estate deal involving his son, Gilad, and land developer David Appel, a stalwart of the prime minister's ruling right-wing Likud party.

A final decision on whether to indict Mr Sharon rests with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz once he receives Arbel's recommendations.

Ariel Sharon, 76, has in the past denied any wrongdoing but analysts have said he would probably be forced from office if he were indicted.

As prosecutors began considering the charges in January, Mr Sharon told supporters at a rally he had no intention of resigning over the allegations.

The premier's aides said he would not step down even if he was indicted, but an opinion poll in January said if charges were brought, the prime minister may have little choice but to bow to public pressure and go.-Reuters