Israel's embattled president gave up his powers temporarily Thursday, but dozens of lawmakers vowed to have him dismissed so he could face a raft of sexual assault charges, including rape.

President Moshe Katsav, who insists he is the victim of a conspiracy, stepped aside after a parliamentary committee voted 13-11 to grant his request to do so. He preserved his immunity by taking a leave rather than resigning.

Parliamentary speaker Dalia Itzik stepped in as acting president the first woman to hold the post.

For seven months, Katsav has been at the center of allegations that he preyed on women who worked for him, threatening to fire them if they didn't grant him sexual favors.

Chairman of the committee Ruhama Avraham called on the president, on behalf of committee members, to resign.

The committee will convene again at the beginning of next week to discuss procedures to remove the president from office, as requested by some 30 lawmakers.

The process of impeachment could last for weeks, Knesset legal advisor, Nurit Elstein, told the Ha'aretz daily.

In an emotional, hour-long speech broadcast on all Israeli television stations on Wednesday, the 61-year-old Katsav painted himself as the victim of a vicious campaign by journalists, police and the state prosecution to smear his name. He said he would "fight with his last breath" fight to clear his name, but would not resign before his hearing.

Top officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, beseeched Katsav to stop clinging to office and allow the nation to heal.

(China Daily via Agencies January 26, 2007)