Olmert faces tough task in forming govt

After declaring victory in Israeli elections, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s Kadima Party said today it would quickly form a broad ruling coalition that will pull out of much of the West Bank and draw Israel’s borders by 2010.

Party officials said that despite a weaker-than-expected performance in yesterday’s election, Kadima has widespread support in parliament and would seek to finalise its withdrawal plans within a year.