almotamar.net Google - The Israeli president, Moshe Katsav, has asked parliament to temporarily remove him from office after the attorney general recommended that he be charged with rape, abuse of power and other sexual offences, it was reported today.
Under Israeli law, a Knesset committee would have to approve any leave of absence, the parliamentary spokesman Giora Pordes said.
Mr Katsav's office had no comment, though the president was expected to address the nation later today.
Mr Katsav, who as president has largely ceremonial powers, will have the chance to make his case in one final hearing before a decision is made about whether to hand down a formal indictment. A suggestion yesterday by Mr Katsav's lawyers that he would resign if charged was later dismissed by other staff.
If charged, it would be the first time a serving Israeli president has been indicted with a crime. The president has always maintained his innocence
Earlier today Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister who also serves as justice minister, joined the growing chorus of MPs demanding Mr Katsav's resignation.
She said that although Mr Katsav had not been convicted, "he should not be waging the battle to prove his innocence from the president's office".
The case against Mr Katsav is based in part on testimony from several female employees. He is alleged to have assaulted one woman and forced another to have sex with him in his office. A string of other allegations were also considered during a seven-month investigation.
The issue first arose in July last year when the president complained to the attorney general that he was being blackmailed by the woman he is now alleged to have raped. Once the investigation began, the focus turned on the president himself and the Israeli press was filled with lurid accounts of the case.
Last night Mr Katsav's lawyer said the president was innocent and that some of the evidence came from employees who were angry at losing their jobs.
"The president believes that everyone will see that he is the victim of false charges," David Libai said.