Israeli police question Foreign Minister

Israeli police yesterday questioned Avigdor Lieberman for a third time since he became Foreign Minister last week on suspicion of bribery and money laundering, a police spokesman said.

Mr Lieberman, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, a major coalition partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, has denied any wrongdoing and has called the police probe into his affairs a smear campaign. His anti-Arab rhetoric has alarmed Palestinians as well as Arab leaders in the region.

"I can confirm that Lieberman was questioned by police as part of an ongoing investigation for five hours today," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Mr Lieberman was also questioned under caution for five hours last Friday and for seven hours on Thursday as part of a years-long probe, details of which have not been released by police. Israeli media said Mr Lieberman was suspected of receiving bribes through a consulting firm run by his daughter.

He has been questioned about the allegations before, but not as Foreign Minister.

In his first comments on the investigation, Mr Lieberman said he had "enjoyed every moment" of questioning and thought police were "doing good work," but hoped the probe would be completed "in as short a time as possible".

Mr Lieberman had asked Israeli courts to have the investigation expedited, arguing that it was unreasonable for a public figure to be subjected to allegations which cast a stain on his image. Police sources said the probe has been going on for 13 years.

Soviet-born Mr Lieberman campaigned for a February 10 Israeli election on a slogan "no loyalty, no citizenship", seen as urging the deportation of Israeli Arab citizens charged with involvement with or advocating the actions of militants based in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank.