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Call for Israel PM to stand down Call for Israel PM to stand down
(about 5 hours later)
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to take a leave of absence or resign as he battles allegations of corruption.Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to take a leave of absence or resign as he battles allegations of corruption.
Mr Barak said he would take his Labor Party out of Mr Olmert's governing coalition if he did not step down. Mr Barak said he would take his Labour Party out of Mr Olmert's governing coalition if he did not step down.
"The prime minister needs to disconnect himself from the day-to-day management of the government," Mr Barak said."The prime minister needs to disconnect himself from the day-to-day management of the government," Mr Barak said.
Mr Olmert denies claims that he took up to $500,000 (£250,000) in bribes or illegal campaign donations.Mr Olmert denies claims that he took up to $500,000 (£250,000) in bribes or illegal campaign donations.
Mr Olmert, the head of the Kadima Party, says the sums were legal campaign contributions. Mr Olmert, the head of the Kadima Party, admits accepting funds before he became prime minister in 2006.
But he insists they were legal contributions towards his campaigns for re-election as Jerusalem mayor and for the leadership of the Likud party.
I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair Ehud BarakIsraeli Defence Minister
He has previously said he had no plans to step aside unless he is charged.He has previously said he had no plans to step aside unless he is charged.
Kadima has just 29 MPs out of a total of 120 seats in the Knesset, and relies on the Labor Party's 19 MPs as key allies in its governing coalition. Kadima has just 29 MPs out of a total of 120 seats in the Knesset, and relies on the Labour Party's 19 MPs as key allies in its governing coalition.
'Early elections' Mr Barak's challenge both raises the pressure on Mr Olmert and adds to the sense of political crisis in Israel, the BBC's Nick Childs says.
But the move leaves room for political manoeuvring, our correspondent adds.
The main political beneficiary from early election is likely to be not Mr Barak's Labour Party, but the opposition Likud of former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, he says.
Barak's warning
Mr Barak was speaking a day after the US businessman at the centre of the allegations told investigators that he gave Mr Olmert envelopes full of cash.Mr Barak was speaking a day after the US businessman at the centre of the allegations told investigators that he gave Mr Olmert envelopes full of cash.
ISRAELI KNESSET Kadima: 29 MPsLabor: 19 MPsShas: 12 MPsLikud: 12 MPsYisrael Beiteinu: 11 MPsOthers: 37 MPs ISRAELI KNESSET Kadima: 29 MPsLabour: 19 MPsShas: 12 MPsLikud: 12 MPsYisrael Beiteinu: 11 MPsOthers: 37 MPs
Morris Talansky was questioned by investigators, and is due to be cross-examined by Mr Olmert's defence team in July.Morris Talansky was questioned by investigators, and is due to be cross-examined by Mr Olmert's defence team in July.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Barak said he did not think the prime minister could run the government and deal with the fall-out from the allegations at the same time.At a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Barak said he did not think the prime minister could run the government and deal with the fall-out from the allegations at the same time.
"He can do this in any of the ways open to him - suspension, vacation or resignation or declaring himself incapacitated. We will not be the ones to determine this," he said."He can do this in any of the ways open to him - suspension, vacation or resignation or declaring himself incapacitated. We will not be the ones to determine this," he said.
But he warned that if he did not leave, "we will act towards setting an agreed and early date for elections".But he warned that if he did not leave, "we will act towards setting an agreed and early date for elections".
However, Mr Barak did not issue an actual ultimatum with a precise deadline attached, our correspondent says.
'Loved cigars''Loved cigars'
Testifying in an Israeli court on Tuesday, Mr Talansky said he handed over about $150,000 (£76,000) of his own money to Mr Olmert, directly and through aides, over a 15-year period.Testifying in an Israeli court on Tuesday, Mr Talansky said he handed over about $150,000 (£76,000) of his own money to Mr Olmert, directly and through aides, over a 15-year period.
Mr Talansky said the money was often handed over in cash-stuffed envelopesThe rest of the money came from fundraising.Mr Talansky said the money was often handed over in cash-stuffed envelopesThe rest of the money came from fundraising.
He said he did not know how the money had been spent, adding: "I only know he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches."He said he did not know how the money had been spent, adding: "I only know he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches."
Mr Talansky said that Mr Olmert also asked him for a personal loan of $25,000-$30,000 for a holiday in Italy.Mr Talansky said that Mr Olmert also asked him for a personal loan of $25,000-$30,000 for a holiday in Italy.
In another case, he said, he walked to a bank to withdraw $15,000 in cash for a loan as Mr Olmert waited in a luxury hotel.In another case, he said, he walked to a bank to withdraw $15,000 in cash for a loan as Mr Olmert waited in a luxury hotel.
Mr Talansky said he thought Mr Olmert's "word was gold", but that Mr Olmert never repaid either loan.Mr Talansky said he thought Mr Olmert's "word was gold", but that Mr Olmert never repaid either loan.