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Barak says he has prepared legislation to dissolve parliament
Associated Press | 06.03.08

JERUSALEM - Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak says he has prepared legislation to dissolve parliament and force the country to hold elections.

The comments raise the pressure on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to step down to face a widening corruption scandal.

Barak last week threatened to pull his Labor Party out of the government and force new elections if Olmert doesn't step aside. Barak said Monday that he has prepared a bill to dissolve parliament, but he declined to say when he would submit the measure for a vote.

Labor officials say they believe there is enough support in the parliament for the bill to pass, and one senior lawmaker says he wants to submit the legislation in two weeks.

There was no immediate reaction from Olmert.