Israeli president to hold talks ahead of PM decision

ISRAELI president Shimon Peres will hold talks with party leaders today before deciding whom he should ask to form a new government after an indecisive election, a statement released last night said.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, head of the centrist Kadima party, and right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu have each staked a claim to be prime minister since the February 10 vote. Kadima won 28 seats in the 120-member parliament to 27 for Netanyahu’s Likud party. Despite Livni’s edge, Netanyahu appears to command the largest bloc of supporters.

Under Israeli law, Peres names the candidate for prime minister. He will begin consultations with members of the dozen parties elected to parliament after receiving the official results, his office said.