Jerusalem - Israeli President Shimon Peres gave Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni a two-week extension Monday for forming a new government to replace that headed by outgoing Premier Ehud Olmert.

The extension was given after Livni met with Peres for an hour and 15 minutes Monday morning, to request the additional fortnight and to brief him on her attempts to form a "stable and long-term" government in the initial 28-day period granted her, a statement issued by Peres' office said.

"I believe that the responsibility that I took upon myself obligates me to try to put together a government ... All the party heads are obligated to make their decision, and I'm sure that it will be right one," Livni told the president.

Peres, a former prime minister, replied that from his experience setting up a government was a "complex" process which required "a great deal of effort," the statement from his office said.

Peres tapped Livni to form a new coalition on September 22, the day after Olmert quit the premiership because of his alleged involvement in corruption scandals.

Members of the ruling Kadima party elected Livni as party leader in place of Olmert on September 17.

Under Israeli law, Livni was given 28 days in which to form a government, but also had the option, which she exercised Monday, of asking for a 14-day extension.

Although Livni said she intended forming a new government as soon as possible, she has so far been unable to sign agreements with enough factions to set up a coalition commanding the support of at least 61 legislators in the 120 seat-Knesset.

So far, Kadima has brought on board to the prospective new coalition only the left-to-centre Labour Party, whose 19 mandates make it the second-largest party after Kadima (29 mandates) in the 120-seat Knesset.

But Livni's aides said last week they were "encouraged" by the past two days of coalition negotiations with the 12-seat ultra- Orthodox Shas faction, the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) - a second ultra-Orthodox party of six mandates - and the dovish, five-seat Meretz party.

They told Israeli media she is confident she will be able to finalize before the Israeli Knesset returns from its summer recess on October 27 but if not by the November 3 final deadline.

The talks with Shas are seen as particularly problematic. Shas is demanding a significant raise in child allowances for large families, to the tune of 1.5 billion shekels (400 million dollars) in the 2009 budget. Livni has said she is willing to give 0.5 billion shekels.

Shas, whose voters are decidedly hawkish, also a commitment that the government will not negotiate on Jerusalem with the Palestinians.

But the dovish Meretz party wants the opposite - negotiations toward a peace deal on all of the core issues of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

Officials from Meretz and Kadima are to meet on Wednesday to continue the coalition talks.

If Livni fails to form a new government by the final deadline of November 3, new elections will be held within 90 days, a year ahead of schedule. (dpa)