TEL AVIV, Sept 17: Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won a decisive victory on Wednesday in an unprecedented Kadima party vote to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, according to exit polls.

Exit polls from three different television stations showed her winning between 47 and 49 per cent of the vote, with a lead of at least 10 points over her main opponent, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, giving her a clear victory.

Tzipi Livni, who has been leading US-backed negotiations with the Palestinians, would have 42 days to form a government if she hopes to avert snap elections that polls say would bring the right-wing Likud party to power.

Livni, who was expected to benefit if turnout proved high, urged Kadima members to come out and vote for a new party leader — who could go on to become prime minister.

“People know they can make a change,” she said after casting her ballot in Tel Aviv.

“The change begins here, at the polling booth,” said Livni, whose reputation for integrity has kept her out of the scandals that have plagued Kadima and Olmert.—AFP