The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to be questioned again soon by police in connection with a corruption investigation, media reports said on Saturday.

The private channel two television station said the premier would be questioned "by Sunday," while the Ynet Internet site of the daily Yediot Aharonot said it would be "within the next 48 hours."

Ynet said police wish to question the prime minister before his lawyers are made aware of testimony by Morris Talansky, a US millionaire businessman suspected of illegally funding Olmert.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP on Saturday he was unable to confirm the reports that Olmert will be questioned soon.

Talansky is to give sworn evidence on May 25 before a judge in a closed-door session and then be allowed to return to the United States, public radio reported on Wednesday.

Olmert's lawyers have appealed the decision to summon Talansky as a witness.

Anti-fraud police are seeking to establish whether Olmert dispensed any favours in exchange for alleged illegal funds he received from Talansky in the 13 years before he became premier in 2006.

Olmert was Jerusalem mayor from 1993 to 2003, and then trade and industry minister until 2006.

Olmert, who has been dogged by scandals since he became prime minister, last week insisted he had never taken a bribe and said he would quit if charges were pressed.

Talansky said on Sunday that he given financial contributions to Olmert but insisted that he believed they were intended for legitimate purposes.

"I never thought in any way that the money I gave was illegal or wrong," the 75-year-old Jewish financier told Israel's private Channel 10 television in his first public comments on the scandal.