Tel Aviv - Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked his cabinet late Monday to approve the call-up of an additional 2,500 reserve soldiers, Israeli media reported.

The cabinet, in its weekly session Sunday, had already approved the call up of some 6,700 reserve troops.

Olmert ordered the cabinet's secretary to conduct a round of telephone calls to the government's 25 ministers to ask for a green light for the additional 2,500 troops.

The Israeli military has refused to comment on how many total troops have been mobilized. (dpa)