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Israel Attorney General 'Considering' Indicting Olmert for Graft

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Israel's attorney general says he is considering indicting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on one of the corruption cases pending against him.

The Israeli Justice Ministry issued a statement Wednesday saying Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has told Mr. Olmert that he faces charges of fraud, bribery and tax evasion. The case is related to the alleged double-billing of travel expenses.

Mr. Olmert learned of the possible indictment shortly after returning from a trip to the United States, where he met with U.S. President George Bush.

The Israeli prime minister has already resigned over corruption allegations, but is still serving as interim prime minister until a new leader is chosen after February elections.

Mr. Olmert's lawyers rejected the allegations against him and said they were confident he would not be charged. The prime minister's office also released a statement saying Mr. Olmert had no plans to set down before a new government is formed.

The travel expenses case is one of several graft allegations against Mr. Olmert. Police have questioned him repeatedly. All of the allegations date to offices he held before he became prime minister in 2006.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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