Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has vowed to prove his innocence after arriving at a Jerusalem court this morning for the beginning of his graft trial. He said that for more than three years he had been subjected to "an almost inhumane campaign of mudslinging and inquiries" for which he had "naturally paid a price".

As a result of allegations of fraud and corruption, he announced in 2008 that he would not seek re-election as Kadima party leader and would step down as prime minister.

Mr Olmert, who became interim prime minister after Ariel Sharon suffered a severe stroke in 2006, left office on 31 March of this year when he was succeeded by Likud leader Benyamin Netanyahu.

During his years in office numerous allegations of corruption were lodged against him. One of the most damaging came in 2008 when United States businessman Morris Talansky said in court that he had handed 150,000 dollars in envelopes to the former prime minister during the preceding 15 years.

Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
Photo by EPA/ANP