JERUSALEM, Jan 24: Israeli President Moshe Katsav has told parliament he will suspend himself from his duties after the announcement that he will be indicted for rape, a Knesset spokesman said on Wednesday.

“Katsav on Wednesday informed the home committee in a letter that he intended to temporarily suspend himself from office,” Knesset spokesman Giora Fordis said.

The measure stopped short of meeting mounting calls for the 61-year-old to resign after the attorney general said he intended to indict him on a slew of charges, including raping a female employee when he was tourism minister, sexual harassment, abuse of power, breach of trust and accepting bribes.—AFP