Israel's ex-president Katsav charged with rape

Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav was indicted yesterday on rape and other sexual offense charges, after calling off a plea deal that would have allowed him to escape jail time.

The 63-year-old Katsav was charged with raping a woman who once worked for him, in addition to lesser sex crimes involving two other former employees. The indictment was filed in Tel Aviv district court nearly three years after the case broke.

Katsav, who has insisted he is innocent, had no immediate comment. No trial date has been set.