Israeli PM Olmert To Step Down And Go Gracefully

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a dramatic announcement to the public Wednesday evening has announced he was not running for the upcoming Kadima primaries.

He made the announcement at his residence at a press conference

Political sources had said earlier they believed Olmert would probably announce that he will not run in the upcoming leadership contest for the Kadima party , scheduled for September 17th.

Prime Minister Olmert has been at the centre of a criminal investigation into the transfer of suspected illegal funds to him during his time as Jerusalem mayor and trade minister.

Reported REKA Israel