Jeddah, Saudi Arabia  - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) finance ministers on Wednesday approved proposals to set up a monetary union, but the timing of the launch of a single currency was not revealed.

"We have an agreement to set up the monetary union and the monetary council, as well as the basic structure," Qatari Finance Minister Youssef Kamal, who chaired the meeting of GCC countries in the Western Saudi city of Jeddah, told reporters.

Tel Aviv  - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has overwhelmingly won Wednesday's primaries in the ruling Kadima party, giving her a good chance of becoming Israel's next prime minister and the second woman ever to run the country, exit polls predicted.

Livni won between 47 and 49 per cent of the vote, according to three independent exit polls broadcast by Israel's Channel 2, Channel 10 and Channel 1 State Television stations.

Her main rival, hawkish Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, obtained 37 per cent of the vote, all three polls predicted.

Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday appeared in public for the first time after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated the communist Caribbean island to the tune of an estimated 5 billion dollars.

"I ask that you keep your optimism, that hope. Let that spirit not fall because that would be the worst, the demoralization would set in," Castro said as he toured the Isle of Youth.

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.

Tel Aviv  - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday evening that his decision to resign after his party elects a new leader had been painful, but added he felt "no bitterness."

"I decided to resign, with pain, not with pleasure, I must say, really with pain," a tired-looking, casually clad Olmert told a gathering of students in Israel's southern Negev desert.

Tel Aviv  - Voting in the primaries of Israel's ruling Kadima party was extended by 30 minutes Wednesday evening, after long queues were reported after work hours at a number of polling stations, Israel's Channel 10 news reported.

Polling stations are now scheduled to close at 10:30 pm (1930 GMT), and the results of exit polls commissioned by Israel's main television channels are due in shortly afterwards.