Shimon Peres played down speculation that he would run to replace Ehud Olmert as prime minister. Peres, who is Olmert’s senior deputy, met the prime minister Wednesday to tell him he is not interested in the top post, political sources said. Israeli media had speculated that Olmert’s Kadima Party, unhappy with the criticism he received in a commission of inquiry report on the Lebanon war, could push for his ouster by Peres, who has served as prime minister before. There is speculation as well that Peres will become Israel’s president in a Knesset vote scheduled for June 13. Peres has yet to confirm his candidacy for head of state.
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