Israeli police seize documents in Olmert probe

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police said they raided the offices of a government ministry on Tuesday, confiscating documents as part of a bribery investigation that has put Prime Minister Ehud Olmert under pressure to resign.

Police had earlier questioned one American businessman in the affair. On Tuesday, a police source said they interviewed two others, including casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

Adelson, who was in Jerusalem as a sponsor of a conference hosted by Israel's president to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state, was not immediately available for comment.

U.S. President George W. Bush is to address the conference on Wednesday.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said fraud squad officers entered the industry, trade and labor ministry, which was headed by Olmert before he became premier in 2006. They took away documents "as part of the ongoing investigation", he said.

On Monday, officers had removed documents from Jerusalem city hall, where Olmert was mayor from 1993 to 2003.

Olmert admitted last week that he took cash from New York Jewish financier Morris Talansky but he has denied any wrongdoing. Olmert said he would resign if indicted.

The police source said that as part of the probe, Israeli investigators on Tuesday questioned Adelson and another American businessman with links to Israel, Daniel Abrahams.

Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Corp. is a major casino, hotel and resort operator.