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Lieberman charged with breach of trust, to resign

World News

14-12-2012 | 10:15

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Lieberman charged with breach of trust, to resign

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Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was charged on Thursday with breach of trust for actions that allegedly compromised a criminal investigation into his business dealings, throwing the country's election campaign into disarray just weeks before the vote.

While Lieberman was cleared of more serious allegations against him, the indictment sparked immediate calls for the controversial politician to step down.

Consequently Lieberman announced he was resigning after being charged with fraud and breach of trust, in a move that could have repercussions on the upcoming general election.

"Though I know I committed no crime ... I have decided to resign my post as foreign minister and deputy prime minister," Lieberman said in an emailed statement, adding that he hoped to clear his name "without delay".

Opinion polls have predicted that the right-wing party of Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would win the Jan. 22 election, and it was not clear if his removal from the race would hurt their chances.

Lieberman, originally from Moldova, is head of Yisrael Beitenu, an ultra-nationalist party that is especially popular with fellow immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Yisrael Beitenu and Netanyahu's Likud Party recently joined forces and are running together on a joint list in the Jan. 22 parliamentary elections. Opinion polls have predicted they would form the largest bloc in parliament and lead a new coalition government.

But Thursday's decision threatened to become a distraction during the campaign. Three leading opposition politicians all called for his dismissal.

AP

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