Olmert asked to form government in Israel

The acting PM, whose Kadima party came in first in last week's election, will have 42 days to put together a governing coalition.

Israel's President gave interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert the official nod on Thursday to form a government.

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"I have the honour to announce that I have decided to ask member of Parliament Ehud Olmert to form the government," President Moshe Katsav said after meeting Olmert.

Olmert, whose centrist Kadima party came in first in last week's election with 29 seats in the 120-member parliament, will have 42 days to put together a governing coalition.

He has said he wants to forge a government as soon as possible.