Azernews.Az

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman formally submitted his resignation Sunday, two days after he said he was quitting due to a pending indictment against him for fraud and breech of trust, Trend news agency reported, referring to dpa agency.

Under Israeli law, the resignation takes effect in 48 hours, after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will become the country's acting foreign minister.

Lieberman dropped his political bombshell Friday, saying that even though he was innocent of the allegations against him, he wanted to clear his name "without delay" and then return "to serve the public and the state as part of a strong and united leadership."

His decision came a day after Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein announced that he intends to prosecute Lieberman for allegedly receiving classified information from a former ambassador to Belarus concerning an investigation against him.

At the same time, Weinstein closed the main case against Lieberman, for which he faced charges of money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, citing lack of clear-cut evidence which would secure a conviction.

The leader of the nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party is running as a candidate for parliament in Israel's January 22 general election.