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.

Tel Aviv - In a contest that could decide the fate of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Israel's ruling Kadima party began electing a new leader Wednesday to replace discredited Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Some 144 polling stations opened their doors at 10 am (0700 GMT) at locations throughout the country, and are to stay open for 12 hours, to enable the 74,000 eligible Kadima members to cast their ballots. By late afternoon, around 20 per cent had done so.

Tel Aviv - Israel's ruling Kadima party began electing a new leader Wednesday to replace discredited Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Some 144 polling stations opened their doors at 10 am (0700 GMT) at locations throughout the country. They will stay open for 12 hours. "I call on everyone to come and vote," frontrunner Tzipi Livni told reporters as she cast her ballot in Tel Aviv.

Livni, 50, Israel's foreign minister and chief negotiator in talks with the Palestinians, has had a consistent, two-digit lead in opinion polls over her main rival, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz.

But Mofaz, 60, has expressed confidence he will take the contest because he has greater influence with field activists who plan to bring in undecided voters.

Tel Aviv - Some 74,000 members of Israel's ruling Kadima party are slated to go to the polls Wednesday to choose a new leader, with the front-runners, Tzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz, hoping to win enough votes to avoid a second round of voting.

Polling begins at 10 am (0700 GMT) and ends 12 hours later, with initial results expected around midnight and final results expected early Thursday morning. Israel's electronic media, however, will broadcast the results of exit polls once voting ends.

Tel Aviv - Members of Israel's ruling Kadima party is choosing a new leader Wednesday to replace discredited Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Some 74,000 registered members of the centrist party are eligible to vote at 114 polling stations placed in 93 different locations throughout the country.

Polls are scheduled to open 10 am (0700 GMT) and close 12 hours later, with initial results expected in by midnight. Israel's main television channels, however, are expected to broadcast the results of exit polls shortly after voting ends.

Tel Aviv - Wednesday's primaries in Israel's ruling Kadima party are crucial for the Middle East peace process.

Whoever wins has a good chance of becoming Israel's next premier.

Of the two favourites, one is a comparative hawk within the centrist party, whose election could mean more stagnation in the peace process for years to come.

The other, although a centrist too, is Israel's chief negotiator who has called the peace talks with the Palestinians a top priority.