Mideast peace talks continuing

JERUSALEM, July 31 (UPI) -- Though Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to leave office, negotiators say Palestinian peace talks will continue.

Olmert announced that he wouldn't run in his centrist Kadima party's Sept. 17 leadership contest and would resign to allow his successor to form a new government.

Until then, Olmert plans to remain a caretaker prime minister, enabling him to continue working with the peace talks, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, with the intention of "reaching agreement with the Palestinians during the time he has left," Haaretz reported.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls Olmert's decision to resign an "internal Israeli matter" and said he will work with Olmert's successor, a spokesman said.

However, a top aide to Abbas told the Jerusalem Post Abbas might call off the talks if no decision is reached by the end of the year.