Olmert heads to US for post-election policy talks

Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert heads to the White House on Monday to hold talks with US President George W. Bush about his post-election policies, Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"It is the right time ... to exchange views with the president on what is expected in the coming two years (of his term)," Olmert said. “The main subjects will be the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian issue.''

The Israeli Prime Minister also warned the US against a ‘premature pullout' of Iraq, saying the country could collapse ‘into internal civil war' without a robust government in place.

"America will have to think about the possible ramifications on neighbouring Arab countries with moderate governments," Olmert said in an interview with The Washington Post newspaper and Newsweek magazine.

Olmert has also praised moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who recently stated that a new unity government would be in place by the end of the month and called for Israel to resume peace efforts, as well as denounce violence.

"The Palestinian issue is on the agenda. There is no way we can ignore it. We have to find the best partner," Olmert was reported as saying in an interview with Newsweek magazine.

Israel hopes its US ally will stand up to Iran and rein in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who refuses to suspend uranium enrichment programmes, insisting they are for peaceful purposes.

"President Ahmadinejad is a man who is ready to commit crimes against humanity, and he has to be stopped," Olmert said.