Former Israeli President's trial begins

JERUSALEM, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The trial of former Israeli President Moshe Katsav, charged with rape and other counts, started Tuesday in Tel Aviv District court.

At the outset, the judge asked Katsav's brother and son to leave the courtroom after a decision was made to conduct the proceedings behind closed doors three days a week, Maariv said.

Some 70 witnesses are scheduled to be called, including former female employees who claimed they were assaulted by the former president when he was in office and during his tenure as tourism minister, the paper said.

In March when Attorney General Menachem Mazouz and State Prosecutor Moshe Lador announced their intention to indict the former president, Katsav in a televised address said he would fight to clear his name and allow the "truth to come out in full," Ynetnews.com said.

Katsav was elected as president in 2000 and resigned in July 2007.