Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet Sunday that he intends to resign the premiership, following the election of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as the new leader of his ruling Kadima Party.

"I am announcing to the cabinet my decision to resign my position as prime minister of Israel," Olmert said in remarks broadcast later by Israel Radio.

"This is not an easy decision and not a simple one," he said, adding that "I think I am acting in a suitable, statesmanlike and responsible manner, as I promised the Israeli public."

Olmert announced in July that he would quit the Kadima party leadership, and then the premiership, because of multiple investigations against him for alleged corruption. Police recommended two weeks ago that he be indicted on some of the allegations.

Olmert did not tell the ministers Sunday when he intended formally to submit his resignation to President Shimon Peres, who would then begin consulting leaders of Knesset factions with an eye to entrusting a new legislator with the task of forming a new government.

Peres leaves Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, and returns only a few days before the two-day Jewish New Year holiday, which begins on the eve of September 29.

A Kadima legislator close to Olmert, Othniel Schneller, later asked the premier to proceed more slowly with his next moves and delay submitting his resignation announcement to Peres until after the president returns from New York.

The legislator assigned by Peres to form a government has 42 days to complete the task, failing which new elections must be held within 90 days.

Under Israeli law Olmert remains caretaker premier until a new government is formed. (dpa)