JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took off Sunday afternoon for Washington for his first official visit to the United States since he took office in early May, Israel Radio said.

    Olmert, who was formally sworn in on May 4 as the new Israeli prime minister, is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday.

    Political sources in Jerusalem said that the Iranian nuclear issue and Olmert's convergence plan to withdraw settlers from the West Bank will be top on the agenda of Olmert-Bush talks.

    During his four-day visit to Washington, Olmert is also expected to address U.S. Congress and meet Jewish leaders.

    It is the first official trip abroad for Olmert, who formed a coalition government along with several other parties following his centrist Kadima party won 29 seats in the March 28 elections.

    Olmert vows to pull out some 70,000 Jewish settlers from the West Bank while keep bigger settlement blocs with or without bilateral talks with the Palestinians. Enditem