The son of Ariel Sharon, Israeli prime minister, pleaded guilty at his trial yesterday on charges involving financial contributions to his father's 1999 campaign for leadership of the ruling Likud party. The plea spells the end of Omri Sharon's brief parliamentary career, but it spares his father potentially damaging publicity from a trial that would have coincided with what is likely to be an imminent run-up to general elections.

Omri Sharon, 41, was found guilty of forgery and violation of campaign laws that limit funding from abroad.