Jersualem  - A star witness in the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has refused to be cross-examined in Israel, attorneys announced Thursday.

The Israeli lawyers for US businessman and fundraiser Morris Talansky refused to come back to Israel for the proceedings at the advice of his US lawyers.

The refusal was related to an investigation taking place in the United States into Talansky's activities.

The Israeli prime minister has been alleged - in the years before he became prime minister - to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars, most of it via envelopes full of cash, from Talansky. Olmert has denied the accusations. (dpa)