Barak sought early Sunday to enlarge his majority to 77 lawmakers by renewing contacts with the ultra-Orthodox movement Shas, a pillar of the outgoing right-wing government and also the third biggest party in parliament with 17 seats, Israeli radio reported.

Officials in Barak's Labour Party said an agreement could also still be reached to bring the current ruling Likud bloc into the coalition, although both Likud and labour were deeply divided on the wisdom of trying to govern together.

Barak, elected by a landslide on May 17 over Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has until July 8 to present his government to the parliament, or Knesset.

In his latest deals, Barak signed up late on Saturday the leftist Meretz party, a traditional Labour Party ally whichhas 10 deputies.

Barak had already reached agreements Friday with the Israel B'Aliya party of Russian-speaking immigrants, which has six deputies, and the right-wing National Religious Party (NRP) which has five members in parliament and represents the interests of Jewish settlers in the Palestinian territories.Negotiations were continuing with the Center Party of former defence minister Yitzhak Mordechai, who sources said would be named transportation minister.