Jerusalem - Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a fourth time Friday on two alleged corruption affairs in which he is suspected of being implicated.

The questioning lasted for 45 minutes minutes longer than the scheduled two hours, Israel Radio reported, and the premier was confronted with documents relating to charges he double-, and even triple-, billed sponsors for overseas visits, and used the extra money to pay for trips for his family.

Olmert was also questioned on allegations that over the years he received hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of it via envelopes full of cash, from a US-Jewish fundraiser.

Olmert has denied the accusations, and although he admitted receiving funds in what has become known as "the money envelopes" affair, denies the sums mentioned, and insists it was legitimate reimbursements for food and accommodation.

Israel Radio quoted a "police source" as saying that he believed that the investigation into both affairs would end in a few weeks and a recommendation would be made to indict the prime minister.

Olmert said Wednesday night that intends stepping down from the premiership after his Kadima party chose a new leader in primaries on September 17.

Announcing his intentions in a televised appearance, he also slammed the conduct of the investigations against him, saying that while he was proud to live in a country "where the prime minister can be investigated like any other citizens" he had "been denied the elementary right to the presumption of innocence."

Olmert's office is currently involved in a public spat with the police and the state prosecutor's office regarding leaks from the investigations against him.

Accounts of police interrogations of witnesses and others involved in the alleged scandals have often appeared in the media within a very short time of their having taken place.

The two cases over which Olmert was questioned Friday came to light only in recent months, and are the latest to beset the premier.

He is also suspected of buying a house in an upscale Jerusalem neighbourhood, at a price significantly below the market value, in return for helping the building contractor receive construction permits from the Jerusalem authorities.

There are also suspicions that, while trade and industry minister, Olmert pushed for a friend and former business partner to receive favourable treatment from the ministry's investment centre, and that he acted improperly by appointing political cronies to senior positions in the ministry's Small Business Authority.

There are also allegations that while finance minister Olmert intervened in the sale of Israel's largest bank to the benefit of two business associates did not lead to an indictment.

An Israeli newspaper on Thursday quoted a Supreme Court justice as saying that Olmert was being targeted as a means of getting rid of his unpopular justice minister, Daniel Friedman, who has enraged the legal establishment with his intended reforms and changes.

The Courts' Adminstration denied the comments attributed to Justice Esther Hayout. (dpa)