AL QUDS, March 28: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon should resign if he is formally charged with receiving bribes, one of his own cabinet ministers said on Sunday.

"Under such circumstances, the prime minister should resign," National Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky told public radio. Widespread media reports said state prosecutor Edna Arbel is to recommend that Attorney General Meni Mazuz prosecute Sharon on charges of accepting bribes from contractor David Appel in the so-called Greek island affair.

The recommendation comes two months after Appel was indicted on charges of trying to bribe Sharon when he was foreign minister, through his son Gilad, in exchange for their help in securing a major Greek property deal.

"If he is charged, the prime minister should submit his resignation and not merely suspend his activities," said Paritzky, who is a member of the centrist Shinui party, the second largest faction in Israel's governing coalition.

The prime minister would not be in a position to run the country as he needs to "devote himself entirely to his defence", added the minister. The state prosecutor's office refused to comment on the reports Sunday as did the prime minister's office.

One of Sharon's lawyers, Avigdor Klasberg, told the radio that the prosecutor general's office had "deliberately leaked" the news in a bid to increase the pressure on the premier.

The leader of the left-wing Yahad party, former justice minister Yossi Beilin, also called on Sharon to quit if he is charged. "It would be incredible if Sharon were to remain prime minister if he is charged even if the law allows him," said Beilin.

Sharon himself was chairing a meeting of his cabinet in Al Quds on Sunday. Most ministers refused to make any comment as they entered the meeting but Tourism Minister Benny Elon, of the far right National Union party, praised Arbel's "courage". -AFP