MP Silvan Shalom, from the right-wing opposition Likud party, branded the report as "an extremely grave indictment that constitutes an earthquake for the entire political echelon."

The committee headed by former judge Eliyahu Winograd earlier handed Olmert its final report into the 34-day war against the Shiite Hezbollah militia, branding the war as a "serious failure" but sparing him from major criticism.

Shalom called on Labour party chairman, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, to pull his party out of Olmert’s coalition government, a move that would likely bring down the government.

"The report states failures and serious shortcomings ... All these oblige Defence Minister Barak to quit the government and agree on new elections," the hawkish MP said in a statement.

MP Zahava Gal-On of the left-wing Meretz party said "Olmert has to go home immediately over his responsibility in going to war and its failures."

But Deputy Foreign Minister MP Majalle Whbee of Olmert’s centrist Kadima party said the report "requires drawing lessons, not chopping of heads."

Kadima MP Yoel Hasson said the report showed that the prime minister did not have to step down, and he slammed the opposition.

"The mud-slinging campaign to de-legitimise the prime minister was irresponsible and wrong. The members of the opposition should apologise," Hasson told AFP.