Israeli Attorney General Menahem Mazuz on Sunday ordered police to open an additional investigation, the third of its kind, against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on suspicion of granting improper political favors.

 

Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Xinhua that the police would appoint a team of investigators to handle the case in the coming days.

 

The prime minister is suspected of making political appointments and assisting political cronies while serving as industry and trade minister between 2003 and 2005, according to local popular daily Ha'aretz.

 

The police will as well probe into Olmert for allegedly helping his associate and former business partner, Attorney Uri Messer, who applied for loans to the Investment Center.

 

"These investigations are unnecessary," Olmert's office was quoted by the website of local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as responding to Mazuz's decision.

 

"It is clear beyond any doubt that these investigations will end with nothing, and today's decision will lead to that in practice," his office added.

 

Olmert has already been questioned by probe teams twice last week for allegations of impropriety in the privatization of Israel's second-largest bank, Leumi.

 

He is also suspected of buying a Jerusalem home from a real estate developer at a substantial discount in return for helping the builder obtain construction permits from Jerusalem authorities.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2007)