JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the chief government watchdog exchanged angry letters Sunday over the way Israel dealt with its summer war in Lebanon, the latest blow to the government's prestige after the inconclusive conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gestures during a visit to the institute of the founding father of the Israeli Likud party, Zeev Jabotinsky, in Tel Aviv Thursday March 1, 2007. [AP]

State comptroller Micha Lindenstrous has been looking into the government's treatment of Israeli civilians during the 34-day war, when Hezbollah guerrillas pelted northern Israel with nearly 4,000 rockets. Without waiting for Olmert's response, Lindenstrous announced he would present preliminary findings to the parliament on Tuesday.

Israeli media reported the findings would criticize the government and Olmert personally for not mobilizing the relevant resources to provide protection and aid for the Israeli citizens who came under attack.

Olmert hit back Sunday with a harsh three-page letter attached to four pages listing the improvements his government has made since the war. In the letter, he called the comptroller's claims "false and completely baseless."

Lindenstrous replied in a letter of his own late Sunday, Channel 2 TV reported, dismissing Olmert's letter as a personal attack and pledging to appear before a parliamentary committee, despite the prime minister's objections.

The war cost Olmert most of his support. Recent polls have shown his popularity at less than 20 percent. While Lindenstrous investigated the civilian aspects, a government-appointed commission is looking into the military and political handling of the conflict and is expected to draw harsh conclusions that could lead to the resignation of Olmert or Defense Minister Amir Peretz - or both.

In January, the commander of the Israeli military, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, resigned over withering criticism of his force's inability to silence the Hezbollah guerrillas and stop the rocket barrages.