JERUSALEM (May 17) - The death yesterday of a Likud supporter following an altercation on Saturday night over election posters cast a pall over the last-minute electioneering.

Yehud resident Rahamim Hevroni died of injuries he reportedly sustained during a heated argument at the Kiryat Savionim junction with a One Israel supporter, who was trying to deface posters he had put up in support of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and replace them with ones for One Israel leader Ehud Barak.

Police spokeswoman Linda Menuhin said there was no clear connection between the row and Hevroni's death.

"An argument broke out between the two, during which the 50-year-old collapsed, fell, and sustained a head injury," Menuhin said.

A spokeswoman for Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer issued a statement on behalf of the family stating: "The family says anyone who makes political use of this private incident will be sued for libel after it has recovered from its difficult situation." Family members were reportedly upset that Netanyahu had revealed the name of the victim.

A 20-year-old was detained, questioned, brought before a magistrate's court judge on Saturday and released. Questioned by police again yesterday, he said he had not touched Hevroni and the argument had only been verbal.

There are different versions concerning how Hevroni was injured. According to some reports, he was pushed over and hit his head, and some Likud activists say he had been beaten on the head with a club.

The police are awaiting the outcome of an autopsy.

"We are shocked, pained, and grieving," said Likud campaign head Tourism Minister Moshe Katsav. Describing the death as "a brutal and low murder," Katsav expressed condolences to the bereaved family and said the perpetrators are "hooligans who present a threat to society and national unity."

"This is a political murder," added a Likud spokeswoman.

Barak expressed "shock and sorrow at the tragedy which has befallen the Hevroni family." He called on Netanyahu to refrain from exploiting the death in the election.

Judy Siegel contributed to this report.