Special: Israel's General Election

    JERUSALEM, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Labor Party officials on Sunday began their efforts in forming a Labor-led coalition government without Kadima, the Ha'aretz daily reported.

    Labor representatives on Sunday presented Chairman Amir Peretzto President Moshe Katsav as the candidate to form the next government, according to the report.

    Arguing that Kadima led by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has failed to win more than 30 seats, Labor officials said that Peretz has a better chance to assemble a coalition government, the report said.

    Secretary-General of the Labor Party and Knesset (parliament) member Eitan Cabel was quoted as saying that there is more than one alternative on forming a coalition and that Labor is looking to form an "emergency social coalition" headed by Peretz.

    "We ask all of the Knesset parties to recommend to the president that Amir Peretz be the one to form the coalition," Cabel said.

    Labor won 20 seats in the Knesset elections last Tuesday, ranking the second after Kadima, which won 28 seats.

    Katsav held meetings on Sunday with leaders of Kadima and Labor to hear their recommendations for whom he should entrust to form the next coalition.

    Representatives of the Kadima party have recommended Katsavassign Olmert with assembling the government.

    Traditionally, the task of forming a new government should fall on the shoulder of the party leader who wins the most seats in the elections.

    However, amendments to the Basic Law on The Government stipulate that the president has the authority to decide whom to appoint to form the coalition, and he is not obligated to the leader of the largest party. Enditem