Jerusalem - Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni postponed by several hours a scheduled meeting with President Shimon Peres Sunday in which she was expected to recommend new elections as she had failed to form a new governing coalition.

Livni had been slated to meet Peres at 2 pm (1200 GMT) but at the last minute received a phone call from Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, who was meeting the president and who asked her to delay her visit to Peres' official residence, Israel Radio reported.

It was unclear whether Peres or Itzik were attempting to intervene and conduct last-minute mediation between Livni and prospective coalition partners who had already refused to join a government headed by her.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to formally recommend to President Shimon Peres later Sunday that he call new elections, as she has failed in her attempts to form a new government.

Livni apparently made the decision Saturday night, after two ultra-Orthodox parties ruled out sitting in a new coalition since she had not met their demands.

She said she was "at peace" with the decision, the YNet news site reported Sunday morning.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni plans to call for new elections after unsuccessful efforts to form a government, local media reports said.

Livni, the leader of the ruling Kadima party, was to inform President Shimon Peres at a planned meeting on Sunday afternoon that talks to form a new government have failed.

She reached the decision after intensive talks with party members.

Jerusalem- Early elections in Israel are becoming increasingly likely, after the ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced Friday that it would not join a coalition led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Shas' decision, which came after Livni issued an ultimatum late Thursday, dealt a serious blow to her efforts to form a government by early next week.

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni said Thursday evening that she would call fresh elections on Sunday if she could not form a coalition by then.

She had already informed President Shimon Peres of her decision, she told members of her Kadima party.

Kadima was open to working with any partner, she said, but she was not prepared to give in to illegitimate demands from other parties.

Livni has until November 3 to present a new government.

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.