The Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has been charged with breach of trust in connection with a long-running financial scandal, BBC News reported.

But Mr Lieberman has been cleared of more serious offences, including money-laundering and bribery.

The charge against one of the most powerful politicians in Israel comes six weeks before a general election.

Opposition parties had called for Mr Lieberman's resignation if he was indicted on any of the charges.

The foreign minister, whose party recently joined that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the elections, denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors had suspected Mr Lieberman had laundered illicit funds, but there was apparently insufficient evidence to take the matter to trial.

Mr Lieberman has been charged with the lesser offence of receiving official material from the investigation against him.