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Israeli Police question PM Olmert Olmert corruption probe widened
(about 5 hours later)
Israeli police are questioning Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a third time over allegations of corruption. Police have widened an investigation into allegations of corruption against Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to also look at whether he may have committed fraud.
The PM, who denies any wrongdoing, is expected to be grilled for two hours. A joint statement by police and the justice ministry said he was suspected of seeking "duplicate funding for his trips abroad from public bodies".
There have been widespread calls for Mr Olmert to resign, and he faces an election for the leadership of his governing party in mid-September. Earlier, Mr Olmert was questioned for a third time over allegations stemming from before he became prime minister.
Police are trying to establish whether he dispensed favours in exchange for funds he allegedly received illegally from US financier Morris Talansky. There have been calls for Mr Olmert, who denies any wrongdoing, to resign.
His governing Kadima party is due to hold a leadership election in mid-September.
Earlier, Mr Olmert was interviewed by police for a third time as part of an inquiry attempting to establish whether he dispensed favours in exchange for funds he allegedly received illegally from a US financier, Morris Talansky.
The prime minister was asked to give his account about suspicions of serious fraud and other offences Israeli police statement Ehud Olmert: Corruption allegations
Mr Talansky has testified he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in envelopes full of cash to Israel's prime minister but said he did not seek or receive any favours in return.Mr Talansky has testified he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in envelopes full of cash to Israel's prime minister but said he did not seek or receive any favours in return.
Mr Talansky has said some of the money was used for expensive personal items, and funds intended as loans were never repaid. Mr Talansky has said some of the money was used for expensive personal items, and funds intended as loans were never repaid. Mr Olmert has said the funds were used legally for election campaigns.
The allegations are connected to the 13 years before Mr Olmert became premier in 2006, when he was mayor of Jerusalem and minister of trade and industry. A statement issued by the police and justice ministry afterwards said Mr Olmert had also been "asked to give his account about suspicions of serious fraud and other offences".
He has denied any wrongdoing, but said he would resign if indicted. "According to the suspicions, during his tenure as Jerusalem mayor and trade and industry minister, Olmert would seek duplicate funding for his trips abroad from public bodies, including from the state, with each of them requested to fund the same trip," it added.
Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem for 10 years until 2003. He then served as minister of trade and industry for two years before succeeding Ariel Sharon as prime minister.
He has not responded to the latest allegations, but has previously denied all wrongdoing and said he will resign if he is indicted.