Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's right-wing Likud party has voted in favour of a referendum on the government's plan to evacuate the Gaza Strip, flouting the advice of party leaders.
The vote on the resolution - which is non-binding for Mr Sharon - was passed by a majority show of hands by members of the party's central committee who were present at an extraordinary meeting in Tel Aviv.
The committee called on Likud MPs to demand a parliamentary vote on a bill calling for a national vote on the plan.
