Olmert faces pressure to quit

Occupied Jerusalem: Pressure mounted on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign as an Israeli inquiry into the Lebanon war is expected to be released on Monday.

Officials close to the investigation said that the report will be critical of Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz and the way they handled the Lebanon war last July.

Reports in Israeli media over the weekend said that Olmert would be censured for "rash and misguided" decision to go to war.

A rally calling for Olmert and his government to quit was planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv. Olmert's aides say he has no intention of resigning.

"The prime minister appointed the committee. He respects the committee and he will respect the recommendations of the committee," said Olmert's spokesperson Miri Eisin.

Thousands of people were displaced and hundreds killed in the war sparked by Hezbollah's abduction of two Israeli soldiers. Fighting ended on August 14.

Olmert's popularity plunged after the war. He has argued that Israel made gains in the 34 days of fighting that did not achieve his aim of winning the return of the two soldiers.