Buenos Aires  - The Catholic priest who is at the centre of a global storm of controversy over his denial of the Holocaust left Argentina Tuesday for London, local media reported.

Under pressure from the Jewish community and other groups in Argentina, the Argentina government had asked Richard Williamson to leave the country by early March or face mandatory expulsion.

Williamson, 68, refused to answer questions from an Argentine reporter and even threatened to punch him at Buenos Aires airport, television footage showed.

Buenos Aires/Paris - The Catholic priest who is at the centre of a global storm of controversy over his denial of the Holocaust will leave Argentina voluntarily, according to a local newspaper report Saturday.

Under pressure from the Jewish community and other groups in Argentina, the Argentina government had asked Richard Williamson to leave the country by early March or face mandatory expulsion.

Jerusalem  - Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert welcomed on Sunday the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Land, disclosing that the visit would take place in May and saying that the "whole Israeli government" was behind it.

Pope Benedict announced the official visit while meeting US Jewish leaders on Thursday, but had not disclosed a date, the moves coming in the wake of the Bishop Williamson Holocaust denial scandal.

Olmert said in a statement released during Sunday's cabinet session that the official reception of the Pope would be carried out by Israeli President Shimon Peres.

Buenos Aires  - A conservative Catholic bishop who is at the centre of a controversy over his denying the Holocaust was relieved as head of a seminary near the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, the DyN news agency said Sunday.

British-born Richard Williamson was sacked by Christian Bouchacourt, the head of the arch-conservative St Pius X Society for Latin America, the report said, citing a faxed message by the group. There has been no official confirmation.

Berlin  - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Pope Benedict XVI chatted on the phone Sunday to set aside their differences over the Holocaust outburst by an arch-conservative bishop.

"It was a good and constructive talk, carried by the deep and constant reminder that the Shoah holds for humanity," said a joint statement released by the Vatican and German government spokesmen.

The pope and the chancellor explained their views "with the greatest of mutual respect," the statement said.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday expressed "concern" for the situation in Madagascar where scores have been killed in clashes between government forces and demonstrators.

The pontiff speaking during his traditional Sunday Angelus blessing, called on the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for an end to the violence in the Indian Ocean island-state.

"The (Roman Catholic) bishops of the island have set aside a special day of prayer today for national reconciliation and social justice," Benedict said.