Party ally urges Olmert to quit

Occupied Jerusalem: A senior party colleague of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on Wednesday for him to resign because he had lost the country's confidence over his handling of last year's war in Lebanon.

"A leader can only lead a public where he has firstly legitimacy and its confidence.

"The prime minister should act responsibly and resign to allow a new coalition to be formed by Kadima," the party's parliamentary faction head, Avigdor Yitzhaki, told Israel Radio.