JERUSALEM, May 2: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert battled to keep his job on Wednesday as his foreign minister became the most senior figure yet to demand he quit over a damning report on his handling of the Lebanon war.

“I expressed my opinion that his resignation is the right thing to do,” Tzipi Livni, previously a key ally in Olmert's Kadima party and also a deputy premier, told a press conference after meeting Olmert.

The move piled the pressure on the weakened premier. Without the support of Livni, the most popular minister in the cabinet, Olmert stands little chance of controlling his coalition government, pundits say.

In a further blow, another ex-ally, the head of Kadima's parliamentary bloc, quit in protest at the premier's refusal to step down after a government inquiry blasted his leadership during last summer's 34-day war.

Avigdor Itzhaki told Olmert he was resigning during a meeting of Kadima's 29 lawmakers, a senior government official said. He had earlier said it would be “suicidal” for Kadima if Olmert remained in his post.

Olmert, 61, remained defiant in the face of the mutiny.

“I am personally not in the most comfortable position,” the senior government official quoted him as telling the Kadima meeting.

“But I am past the age of 60 and I've seen a lot of things in my life and I've learned not to run away from responsibility,” said Olmert, who officially assumed his post less than a year ago.

Olmert's spokeswoman quoted him as saying he “needs to stay and fix the problems.” Kadima cannot forcibly oust Olmert, as its charter does not spell out such a procedure.

If Olmert were to quit, the party would name a new premier who would then either preside over the current 78-member coalition in the 120-seat parliament, or try to form a new coalition if some of the partners bolt.

Livni, who was largely spared from criticism by the Lebanon war inquiry, said she intended to remain in government and, throwing down a second gauntlet to Olmert, said she would contest the leadership of Kadima should he resign.

But a senior Olmert aide warned that her comments were likely get her fired.

“She has expressed her lack of confidence (in the premier) and she has to go,” said Tal Zilberstein, a senior political advisor to Olmert.

The premier's spokeswoman declined to comment on whether he intended to fire his rebellious foreign minister.

Meanwhile, Israeli media cited aides to Defence Minister Amir Peretz -- the Labour party leader roasted by the report for failing in his functions during the war -- saying he would resign soon.

Peretz's office declined to comment on the reports. An ally, Labour MP Yoram Marciano, said Peretz was weighing the pros and cons, but had not taken a definitive decision.

Polls published on Wednesday showed that between 65 and 68 percent of Israelis want Olmert to resign, and that only six per cent think he is capable of carrying out the functions of his office.

That pressure on Olmert will increase further on Thursday, when parliament holds an extraordinary session to discuss the report and a mass rally is due to take place in Tel Aviv to call on Olmert to resign.

Lawmakers could try to push for a no-confidence vote in Olmert's government, but support for such a move is uncertain. Its success could eventually lead to new elections, and surveys show that most of the parties in the coalition would lose seats in new polls.—AFP