Olmert meets Turkish leaders

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert met Turkish leaders for talks expected to centre on the Middle East and Turkish-mediated peace talks between Israel and Syria.

Mr Olmert met President Abdullah Gul before holding talks with prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over dinner. The talks lasted more than five hours and aides to Mr Olmert said the main subject was Israel-Syrian negotiations.

Israel and Syria held four rounds of indirect negotiations in Turkey after the peace talks were launched in May, but the talks were suspended when Mr Olmert announced he would step down.