Jerusalem: Faced with allegations of taking "bribes" worth millions of dollars from a US citizen, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that the money was part of "campaign donations" and he would resign if indicted.

"I look into the eyes of each and every one of you and say that I have never taken a bribe. I never took a penny for myself," Olmert said in a televised address to the nation.

"I was elected by you, citizens of Israel, to be the Prime Minister and I don't intend to shirk this responsibility," he said.

"At the same time, and even though the law does not require me to do this, I will resign from my job if the Attorney General decides to issue an indictment against me," Olmert added.

The Israeli Prime Minister is suspected of illicitly receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from an American businessman MorrisTalansky according to the details of a policeinvestigationrecently launchedagainst him.

A Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court relaxed a sweeping media gag order yesterday that prevented the reporting of details on the probe at the request of police and judicial officials.

The Prime Minister wasquestioned under caution last Friday and the gag order was initially meant to remain in place until early next week.

Source : PTI