Egypt invites Israeli PM to visit

Mr Olmert has led since Ariel Sharon's stroke in January

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has invited interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to visit Cairo, Mr Olmert's office has said.

Mr Mubarak extended the invitation during a telephone call between the two leaders, Israeli officials say.

The details and date of the trip are not yet known.

It will be the first meeting between the country's leaders since 2005 when an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire was brokered at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Hamas division

Mr Olmert has served as acting prime minister since Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke 4 January.

On Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Cairo was hoping to facilitate peace talks between Mr Olmert and the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.

Mr Abbas, the leader of the Fatah Party, is in favour of talks. However, the January election victory by the Palestinian militant group Hamas is proving a sticking point.

Hamas' leaders are refusing to end their violent campaign against Israel or recognise its right to exist.

For its part Israel has vowed not to deal with any Palestinian government that includes Hamas, and has called Mr Abbas irrelevant following Hamas' landslide win.