Olmert, Abbas hold Mideast peace talks

AFP, August, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday, a week after the premier's announcement he would resign cast a cloud over peace negotiations.

The two were holding talks over a working lunch, Olmert's office said.

The meeting was the first since the embattled Olmert's surprise announcement last week that he would step down after his centrist Kadima party holds an election to chose a new leader on September 17.

The premier has been the target of six corruption probes and had for months faced mounting calls to resign from across the political spectrum, including from crucial coalition allies.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat has said the two men will discuss key issues in the peace process,...