'Katsav was offered chance to change his story'

The Justice Ministry announced on Monday that it had asked suspended President Moshe Katsav if he were interested in giving a different version of his story in the investigation against him for alleged sexual crimes. The request came after Katsav's lawyers had given an account that partially contradicted the testimony Katsav gave police. The ministry clarified, however, that it had not offered to alter the charges against Katsav in return for a new testimony. One of Katsav's attorneys, Avigdor Feldman, said his client had no intention of changing his story, and maintained that the president - who suspended himself in January - had never had a romantic or sexual relationship with any of the women accusing him.