Olmert won't heed Barak ouster call, adviser says

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert plans to stay in office despite a public call by his top coalition partner, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, on Wednesday to step aside over corruption allegations, an Olmert adviser said.

"The prime minister was not considering resigning, nor taking a leave of absence, nor any of the other suggestions raised at that press conference," Tal Silberstein told Channel 10 television, referring to Barak's appearance before reporters.

"I can tell you that the press conference changed nothing," added Silberstein, a strategic consultant for Olmert who said earlier in the day he was in regular contact with the premier.