Prosecutors draft rape charge against Israeli president

The draft indictment will be presented within two weeks to Attorney General Menahem Mazuz, who will then decide whether to formally charge Katsav, local media said.

Israeli police announced on Sunday that evidence gathered during a weeks-long investigation was enough to charge the 60-year-old head of state with rape, sexual harassment and wire-tapping.

Katsav has vigorously denied the allegations -- the most serious ever levelled against a national leader -- and has so far refused to step down from his largely ceremonial post.

The president thinks that an indictment will not be filed -- previous police recommendations against top officials have not always been followed by formal charges -- but will resign should he be indicted, his attorney said.

"If attorney general decides to present a formal indictment, the president will immediately resign, he will not remain president for a second longer," Zion Amir, one of Katsav's lawyers, told army radio.