Olmert has health problem, convenes media -source

JERUSALEM, Oct 29 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened a surprise news conference for noon (1530 hrs IST) today and a political source said it would address Olmert's health.

Israel's Channel 10 television said the news conference may address a skin ailment that was recently discovered. It was not immediately clear if Olmert himself would appear before reporters.

Olmert's office had no comment other than to say the subject of the news conference would be ''non-political''.

Olmert, 62, was propelled to power when his party ally Ariel Sharon was felled by a stroke in early 2006. His administration has been dogged by corruption scandals as well as the fall-out from last year's inconclusive Lebanon war.

He has engaged in talks with the Palestinians about a peace conference to be held later this year in the United States, but he faces opposition within his own broad coalition cabinet to making concessions to the Palestinian leadership.

REUTERS SYU KN1409