Afghanistan: Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert handed six-year jail sentence --- Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has been sentenced to six years in prison for taking bribes. The ruling on Tuesday is the first time a corruption case has resulted in the criminal conviction of a former head of government in Israel. -- Olmert had denied wrongdoing in a real estate deal that took place during his time as mayor of Jerusalem. -- His lawyers were expected to ask the Tel Aviv court that passed sentence to allow Olmert, 68, to remain free until the supreme court rules on an appeal against his conviction on 31 March, a process that could take months. -- Two years ago, the veteran politician was acquitted of most of the major charges brought against him in separate cases involving his links to a US businessman. -- Those corruption allegations forced Olmert's resignation as prime minister in 2008, and his acquittal had appeared to position him for a possible political comeback. --- But in the new corruption trial, judge David Rozen found Olmert guilty of two bribery charges and said he accepted 500,000 shekels (£86,000) from developers of the Holyland apartment building complex in Jerusalem and 60,000 shekels in a separate real estate project.