Police might indict Israeli FM

Israeli police have called for the indictment of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on several charges; including graft and money laundering.

"The police fraud investigation unit has recommended the indictment of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on charges of bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice," police told AFP.

Police will submit the recommendation to Attorney General Menahem Mazuz in coming days.

Lieberman who is suspected of corruption, fraud, money-laundering, abuse of confidence and obstruction of justice, will be forced to step down if the indictment goes ahead.

He however denies any wrongdoing and described the police investigation as a politically motivated move.

"There was no real reason to open investigations against me, and if the suspicions had any foundation the investigation would not have continued for over a decade," he said in a statement.

Lieberman 'facing 31 years in jail' as corruption probe winds up

"When I open the police files I find detailed reports about Jewish criminals. The archives have enough material for 100 historians and for 100 years, and even then they won't finish." -- Haartez News. Jerusalem, Tuesday, November 2, 2004