Ex-Isreali PM Olmert's trial begins

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert appeared in court as the first trial of a current or past Israeli leader opened in Jerusalem.

Mr Olmert faces charges of illegally accepting funds from an American supporter and double-billing Jewish groups for trips abroad, among others.

Entering the court today, Mr Olmert said he is “innocent of any crime” and that he believes the court will agree.

The accusations dated from Mr Olmert’s time as Jerusalem mayor and later as a Cabinet minister, but emerged when he was prime minister. He eventually resigned over the allegations.

The 63-year-old Mr Olmert left politics when Benjamin Netanyahu became prime minister last March.