English
Olmert probed again on corruption
Israeli police have questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a fourth time over allegations of corruption. The latest stage of the police investigation comes two days after he said he would step down in September to fight the allegations, which he denies. A US businessman has said he gave Mr Olmert envelopes stuffed with cash before he became prime minister. Mr Olmert has said he only received legitimate campaign funds from the businessman, Morris Talansky. He has also denied the latest allegations to emerge, that he sent multiple expenses claims for his overseas trips.
Mr Olmert said on Wednesday that he would not stand in a leadership election for his Kadima party and would hand over the premiership to whoever won. Israeli analysts are doubtful that the new Kadima leader will be able to form a new coalition, which could mean Mr Olmert remains as caretaker prime minister until a general election. He has faced growing calls to resign after being questioned about six corruption scandals, although no charges have been filed, and being criticised by a report into the 2006 Lebanon war. The political uncertainty in Israel has cast a shadow over a faltering US-backed peace process with the Palestinians and indirect talks with Syria. Succession race Opinion polls in Israel show Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima’s Tzipi Livni running almost neck-and-neck if a national election were held now. On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu called for snap elections, saying the Kadima-led government had “finished its mission” and was responsible for a “string of failures”. Ms Livni, a favourite to replace Mr Olmert as head of the Kadima Party, said the prime minister’s decision had been hard but correct. Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit are also seen as potential successors. In the past, Mr Olmert has said he would only resign if indicted for wrongdoing; analysts say Wednesday’s decision means Israel will not have to face that unedifying prospect, and the prime minister’s poll ratings are so low he would stand little chance of re-election. |
|||
Olmert’s decision could be a chance for opposition leader Netanyahu (left)
Source: BBC
More Top News
Hollywood heavyweights Robert De Niro and Al Pacino reunited on the red carpet in New York Wednesday night for the premiere of their new crime thriller “Righteous Kill” — their first film together since making 1995’s “Heat.”
The movie also stars
The Pakistani Army has been given orders to retaliate against any unilateral strike by the Afghanistan-based US troops inside the country.
Army Spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed the orders in a brief interview with Geo News on late Thursday night.
The
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he will not accept military action or new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.
“We should not take any unilateral steps. It is not acceptable to opt for a military scenario. It would be dangerous,”
As the world marks the seventh anniversary of 9/11, some European experts say security improvements in the US have been undercut by fairly basic mistakes. Among the remedies is more trust in America’s laws and allies.
Seven years after the attacks
David Miliband has allegedly come in for a rather undiplomatic tongue-lashing from his Russian counterpart.
The Foreign Secretary was apparently given a furious dressing down by Sergei Lavrov over the telephone.
Mr Miliband’s criticism of Russia’s recent incursion into Georgia is believed
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa - A South African judge ruled Friday that prosecutors were wrong to charge ANC President Jacob Zuma with corruption, effectively clearing way for the 66-year-old former freedom fighter to become the country’s next president.
Judge Chris Nicholson’s ruling
Thailand’s political turmoil deepened Friday when the ruling coalition failed to turn up to parliament to reelect leader Samak Sundaravej as prime minister.
Lawmakers from the six-party coalition did not attend an emergency session of parliament called to choose a prime minister, three days after a court stripped Samak of power for accepting payments for hosting
Feeds