Indictment for Israeli President

Prosecutors have begun to draft a charge sheet against Israeli President Moshe Katsav after police said they had evidence he committed rape, Israeli media reported yesterday.

As pressure grew on Katsav to resign, two allies of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert went on trial: former Justice Minister Haim Ramon over charges he forced a kiss on a female soldier and lawmaker Tzachi Hanegbi over high-level appointments he made while a minister in a previous government.

Army Radio reported the state attorney-general, Menachem Mazuz, was likely to decide within two weeks to press charges against Mr Katsav over the scandal involving female employees.

The report, published also by the Haaretz newspaper, said Jerusalem prosecutors were drafting a charge sheet after police said on Sunday they had evidence Katsav had "carried out sex crimes of rape, sexual molestation by force and without consent".

Justice Ministry spokesman Moshe Cohen said he had no comment.

Mr Katsav, 60, whose ceremonial position is widely seen as a unifying force in a country of deep political divides, has denied any wrongdoing and said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial".

His lawyer, Tsion Amir, said the president would resign his post if an indictment was brought against him.

"If the attorney-general decides, heaven forbid, there is room for an indictment, the president would not stay on for a moment," Dr Amir said in remarks broadcast by Army Radio.

Mr Katsav is the highest ranking Israeli politician ever suspected of sex crimes. He could face up to 16 years in prison if tried and found guilty of rape.