Quds city (JERUSALEM), September 21, SPA -- Embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has told his Cabinet that he is stepping down. Olmert made the comments at the opening of his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday. In the televised remarks, he said he would tell the Cabinet of his «intention to resign the office of prime minister of the state of Israel.» Olmert says he will «stand by» Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was elected last week to replace him as chairman of the governing Kadima party. Olmert is being forced from office by a corruption scandal, according to a report of the Associated Press. It's still not clear when Olmert will submit his resignation to President Shimon Peres. The prime minister has to formally notify Peres of his intention to step down. After that, the president can tap Livni to try to put together a new coalition government.
