Olmert in Washington on farewell visit

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert began a visit to Washington on Sunday to bid farewell to President George W. Bush before the two leaders leave office.

The White House session on Monday will focus on Iran's nuclear program and progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The United States, Israel and Palestine have all acknowledged that a peace accord will not be in place before Bush's run in the White House ends in January.

No major announcements are expected after the meeting, but the spokesman said: "When the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel get together, they always have serious matters to discuss."