Police question Ehud Olmert again

Police questioned the Israeli prime minister for the fourth time in their ongoing bribery and fraud investigation.

The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, centre, leaves a memorial service for the late Zionist leader Ze'ev Jabotinsky at Mt Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, on July 31, 2008.

JERUSALEM // Police questioned the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, today for a fourth time in their ongoing bribery and fraud investigation, two days after the Israeli leader said he would step down. Police are looking into allegations that Mr Olmert took bribes from an American businessman and made duplicate claims for travel expenses when he was trade minister and mayor of Jerusalem. Mr Olmert has denied any wrongdoing. On Wednesday, Mr Olmert said he would quit as soon as a new leader of Kadima was elected next month but vowed to continue peace talks with the Palestinians and Turkish-mediated negotiations with Syria until his last day in office. The prime minister has faced a handful of inquiries recently into his past financial affairs as mayor of Jerusalem for 10 years until 2003 and subsequently as a cabinet minister until he succeeded the ailing Ariel Sharon in early 2006. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said investigators had originally requested a lengthy midweek session but Mr Olmert's office had allotted only two hours today from the prime minister's schedule. Last month Mr Olmert's lawyers spent five days cross-examining American fundraiser Morris Talansky, who has alleged he gave the Israeli leader cash-filled envelopes. The cross-examination will resume for two days on Aug. 31. Top advisers said Mr Olmert could stay in office for months as caretaker prime minister, long enough to pursue the peace talks, but politicians said he had no mandate to commit Israel to any deals. The foreign minister Tzipi Livni said yesterday that she continued to hope for a peace deal with the Palestinians this year and called on all parties that support peace to unite. Four Kadima ministers have launched campaigns to replace Mr Olmert in the Sept 17 vote. Ms Livni is the front-runner and her closest rival is the transport minister, Shaul Mofaz, a former defence chief known for his tough tactics in crushing a Palestinian uprising. * Reuters