International leaders on Wednesday congratulated Israel's Acting Premier Ehud Olmert on his party's victory in the latest Israeli general elections.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Olmert and his party on winning the highest number of seats in the elections and encouraged the leader to actively pursue the peace process in the region, Annan's spokesman said in a statement.

The Israeli Central Election Commission said on Wednesday that Israel's centrist Kadima Party headed by Olmert won the general elections, taking 28 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament).

Kadima needs at least three other parties to form a majority government.

The secretary-general encouraged Olmert, as soon as the government is formed, "to pursue actively the peace process and work for the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security," the spokesman said.

Israeli Army radio reported on Wednesday that U.S. President George W. Bush phoned Olmert congratulating him on his party's victory and invited him to visit Washington after his new government is formed.

"Kadima's victory was an impressive achievement considering it is a new party," Bush told the new Israeli leader.

Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak also made a phone call to congratulate Olmert, according to Egyptian media reports.

Source: Xinhua