Ehud Olmert

Olmert 'took illegal payments'

Updated 21.31 Thu May 08 2008

Prosecutors in Israel have revealed they are investigating whether Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received illegal payments.

Police said Mr Olmert is suspected of taking "significant sums" in illegal payments from one or more foreign sources.

Police said Mr Olmert is suspected of taking "significant sums" in illegal payments from one or more foreign sources

The payments are said to have been made before he became prime minister of the Jewish state in 2006.

The news is likely to raise pressure on Mr Olmert to resign from his post, which it is feared could upset delicate peace talks with the Palestinians.

A police spokesman, lifting a media gag order, named New York financier Morris Talansky as a key witness in the investigation.

In a late-night televised statement, Mr Olmert admitted he accepted campaign donations from an American businessman but denied they were bribes and said he would only resign if he were indicted.

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