Tel Aviv  - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has won Wednesday's primaries in Israel's ruling Kadima faction, succeeding Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as the party leader, two exit polls broadcast by Israel's main television channels predicted.

Channel 10 predicted Livni received 49 per cent of the vote, against 37 per cent for her main rival, hawkish Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz. The two other candidates, Avid Dichter and Meir Sheetrit, each received 7 per cent.

Channel 2 predicted Livni had received 47 per cent of the vote, against 37 per cent for Mofaz. It also said Dichter and Sheetrit each obtained 7 per cent.

Livni needed more than 40 per cent to win in the first round. (dpa)