Israeli Foreign Minister and new Kadima leader Tzipi Livni yesterday met chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei for the first time since she was entrusted with the task of forming a government, local daily The Jerusalem Post reported.

Qurei was quoted as saying that Livni assured him that the Israeli-Palestinian talks would continue while she puts together her coalition.

Livni, who has been serving as chief Israeli peace negotiator since the talks were relaunched last November, officially received a presidential mandate Monday night to form a new government after she was chosen as the ruling Kadima party chief.

Upon the authorization, she has at most 42 days to form a new coalition. Should she fail, President Shimon Peres may assign the task to a second or even a third lawmaker. If all the cabinet-making efforts fail, early general elections will be held, possibly next Spring.

A senior Palestinian official, meanwhile, said that there was no longer any negotiation with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since he was about to leave his post and did not have the mandate to sign an agreement.