Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he will step down in September after a party leadership vote, announcing the end of a premiership dogged by graft investigations.
'After the election of my successor I will step down to allow a government to be formed rapidly,' he said, after saying he would not run in the centrist Kadima party election due in mid-September.
The surprise announcement marks the apex of a political storm raised after police launched an investigation in May,
Police investigated claims Mr Olmert had accepted vast sums of money from a US businessman in order to finance election campaigns and a lavish lifestyle in the 13 years before he became premier in 2006.
It also casts a long shadow on peacemaking efforts with Palestinians and Syria.
Mr Olmert, 62, has admitted he had accepted money from Morris Talansky in the latest corruption probe against him, but has denied any wrongdoing.
