Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on President Moshe Katsav to resign Wednesday amid indications that he may soon be charged with rape and other sexual offences.
"Under these circumstances, there is no doubt in my mind that the president cannot continue to fulfill his position and he must leave the president's residence," Olmert said at a security conference.
Meanwhile, Katsav asked parliament Wednesday to temporarily remove him from office just one day after prosecutors announced that they have enough evidence to charge him with rape, harassment, abusing his power for sex, obstructing justice and illegally distributing gifts while president and cabinet minister.
Under Israeli law, Katsav must receive the approval of a Knesset committee before he can be removed, said parliamentary spokesman Giora Pordes.
Attorney-General Meni Mazuz said Tuesday that while he planned to indict Katsav, he first wanted to give the president a chance to plead his case before him.
The first woman to accuse Katsav came forward last summer accusing him of forcing her to have sex in his office. Other women then came forward with similar accusations.
In an emotional news conference Wednesday, Katsav blamed the media for their "witch hunt," "McCarthyism" and "persecution."
Political pressure
If prosecutors charge Katsav, the criminal indictment will be an unprecedented first for an Israeli head of state.
The 61-year-old has insisted that he's innocent despite increasing pressure by legislators that he resign from his mostly ceremonial post.
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who also serves as foreign minister, said in a statement that Katsav "should not be waging the battle to prove his innocence from the president's office."
Livni is calling for Katsav to resign.
The small opposition Meretz party is threatening impeachment proceedings if Katsav does not resign by Wednesday evening.
While in office, the president is granted immunity and can be tried only after his resignation, the conclusion of his term (which ends this summer) or via impeachment by three-quarters of the parliament.
Katsav has said publicly that he will resign if indicted.
Meanwhile, Haaretz newspaper is quoting legal sources as saying that Mazuz will not agree to any plea bargain in which Katsav resigns in exchange for the charges being dropped.
If found guilty, Katsav could face more than 20 years in prison.
Israeli politics is currently plagued by other scandals as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert faces allegations of corruption while a former cabinet minister deals with a different case of sexual misconduct.
With files from The Associated Press
