Israel elects Livni as PM

Tzipi Livni is prepared to become Israel's second woman prime minister after winning a close election victory.

Livni will replace current PM Ehud Olmert who is embroiled in a corruption scandal.

The 50-year-old lawyer and one-time Mossad spy is a member of the centrist Kadima party. She is currently the foreign minister. She narrowly defeated by one point her main opponent, former general and current transportation minister Shaul Mofaz.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurie welcomed Livni's victoryi, saying he believed she would "pursue peace moves with us".

Times Online

Livni narrowly wins party vote, eyes Israel PM job Reuters - 24 minutes ago By Allyn Fisher-Ilan and Ari Rabinovitch TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Tzipi Livni was selected leader of Israel's ruling party and vowed on Thursday to start work immediately on forming a new coalition that will let her succeed the scandal-hit Ehud ... Video: Israel: Ruling party votes for new chief to replace Olmert france24english In first remarks, Livni stresses unity within party, country Jerusalem Post