I'll quit after party election : Olmert
September 13, 2008 00:00:00
JERUSALEM, Sept 12 (AFP): Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has stressed his determination to step down immediately after his centrist Kadima party holds its leadership election, Israeli public radio reported Friday.
The vote will be on Wednesday, but would go to a September 24 second round if no candidate gets at least 40 per cent.
"I will resign immediately after the primary and recommend to the president to assign the task of forming the government to whoever is elected in my place," Olmert told a party meeting Thursday.
"The transfer of power will be responsible and stately. I will not use any political manipulation that serves one person or another," he said.
Olmert, who has been dogged by allegations of graft, had already announced on July 30 that he would step down.