Israel's Olmert wins party backing: Peres

Jerusalem, May 3: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert won support at a meeting of Kadima party lawmakers today for his decision to stay despite calls for his resignation, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said.

Emerging from the three-hour session, Peres told reporters ''the prime minister enjoyed unprecedented support here''. It was not immediately clear if a vote had been taken after the party's leader in parliament quit to demand that Olmert step down.

Reuters>