Olmert approves arms supply to Abbas

London: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday he has approved supplying weapons to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guards.

Olmert's statement comes as Abbas called as "state terror" an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Tuesday. Eleven people were killed and at least 30 others were wounded.

The attack follows the killing of seven Palestinians during Israeli artillery shelling on Friday.

Olmert, who is in London for a meeting with British Parliament, said he authorised the weapons transfer to boost Abbas's forces against Hamas.

"I did this because we are running out of time and we need to help Abu Mazen (Abbas)," Olmert said.

He did not give details of the amount or type of weapons.

A day earlier, Olmert said in London that he would make "every possible effort" to negotiate peace with the Palestinians but will act unilaterally if no agreement can be reached.

Abbas has been seeking to counter Hamas, which has control of the Palestinian Cabinet after it won recent Palestinian elections.

Hamas has said it will not back down on its anti-Israel stand, despite pressure from the West for the group to disarm and Abbas' call for co-existence.