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Olmert questioned on 'corruption' | Olmert questioned on 'corruption' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police in Israel have questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a second time in a corruption investigation. | Police in Israel have questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a second time in a corruption investigation. |
Prosecutors say they suspect Mr Olmert misused large amounts of cash received from a US businessman when he was mayor of Jerusalem. | Prosecutors say they suspect Mr Olmert misused large amounts of cash received from a US businessman when he was mayor of Jerusalem. |
Earlier this month Mr Olmert denied any wrongdoing, saying the money he had received was to be used to fund political campaigns. | Earlier this month Mr Olmert denied any wrongdoing, saying the money he had received was to be used to fund political campaigns. |
He has said he would resign if he is formally charged. | He has said he would resign if he is formally charged. |
Few details have emerged after the latest meeting, which lasted just over an hour. | |
However, prosecutors have said it may be many months before they conclude their investigations. | |
Pressure | |
Morris Talansky - a New York-based financier - is said to have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Mr Olmert at a series of meetings in the 1990s and early 2000s. | Morris Talansky - a New York-based financier - is said to have given hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Mr Olmert at a series of meetings in the 1990s and early 2000s. |
Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise funds for election campaigns but he insisted everything had been legal. | Mr Olmert said Mr Talansky had helped him raise funds for election campaigns but he insisted everything had been legal. |
Mr Talansky has also said all his actions on behalf of Mr Olmert were legal. | Mr Talansky has also said all his actions on behalf of Mr Olmert were legal. |
Mr Olmert became prime minister in 2006 after being minister for industry and trade from 2003-2006 and mayor of Jerusalem from 1993-2003. | Mr Olmert became prime minister in 2006 after being minister for industry and trade from 2003-2006 and mayor of Jerusalem from 1993-2003. |
The police investigation has cast doubt on Mr Olmert's ability to press forward with talks with the Palestinians and Syria. | The police investigation has cast doubt on Mr Olmert's ability to press forward with talks with the Palestinians and Syria. |
BBC Jerusalem correspondent Wyre Davies says Mr Olmert is coming under tremendous pressure from his political opponents and his popularity has plummeted in opinion polls. |