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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Olmert tells cabinet he will quit | Olmert tells cabinet he will quit |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told the Israeli Cabinet he is going to resign - but he will remain in power until a new government is formed. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told the Israeli Cabinet he is going to resign - but he will remain in power until a new government is formed. |
| He is expected to be replaced by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who has six weeks to form a fresh coalition government. | He is expected to be replaced by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who has six weeks to form a fresh coalition government. |
| Mr Olmert announced he would step down in July after facing growing pressure over multiple corruption inquiries. | Mr Olmert announced he would step down in July after facing growing pressure over multiple corruption inquiries. |
| He will formally submit his resignation later on Sunday. | |
| Mr Olmert's aides said he would deliver a letter of resignation to President Shimon Peres at 1930 (1630 GMT). | |
| The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says Mr Olmert may remain in office as caretaker prime minister for some time while his successor as leader of the Kadima Party, Ms Livni, tries to form a new government. | The BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem says Mr Olmert may remain in office as caretaker prime minister for some time while his successor as leader of the Kadima Party, Ms Livni, tries to form a new government. |
| He said it will not be easy for her to put together a coalition government because Kadima does not have a majority in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. | He said it will not be easy for her to put together a coalition government because Kadima does not have a majority in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. |
| It is a complicated process that may end in general elections at the start of next year, until when Ehud Olmert may remain as prime minister, our correspondent added. | It is a complicated process that may end in general elections at the start of next year, until when Ehud Olmert may remain as prime minister, our correspondent added. |
| Corruption investigations | Corruption investigations |
| Ms Livni, who is regarded as a moderate, won the leadership of the governing Kadima party on Thursday, beating Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by just 431 votes, or 1.1%. | Ms Livni, who is regarded as a moderate, won the leadership of the governing Kadima party on Thursday, beating Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by just 431 votes, or 1.1%. |
| According to the president's office, Ms Livni will have up to 42 days to attempt to form a coalition representing at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats from Israel's mosaic of political parties. | According to the president's office, Ms Livni will have up to 42 days to attempt to form a coalition representing at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats from Israel's mosaic of political parties. |
| If she fails, the president may give another member of the Knesset up to 42 days to try to form a government. | If she fails, the president may give another member of the Knesset up to 42 days to try to form a government. |
| If still no government is formed, the president may mandate yet another member to try, or call elections, which must then take place within 90 days. | If still no government is formed, the president may mandate yet another member to try, or call elections, which must then take place within 90 days. |
| Mr Olmert said he would resign once a new Kadima party leader had been chosen. | Mr Olmert said he would resign once a new Kadima party leader had been chosen. |
| He has faced growing pressure over multiple corruption investigations during his less than three years in office. He denies any wrongdoing in all cases. | He has faced growing pressure over multiple corruption investigations during his less than three years in office. He denies any wrongdoing in all cases. |
| Police have recommended he be indicted over two of the probes - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad. | Police have recommended he be indicted over two of the probes - allegations that he misused cash payments from a US businessman, and accusations that he double-billed government agencies for trips abroad. |