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Sharon stroke 'triggered'
09/01/2006 15:33 - (SA)
Jerusalem - Associates of Ariel Sharon believe attacks by opponents of the Israeli premier over corruption allegations helped trigger the massive stroke that has left him fighting for life, a newspaper report said on Monday.
Sharon suffered a second stroke in less than three weeks on Wednesday, a day after police claims that they may have evidence to prove his family received the bribe from an Austrian businessman.
Education Minister Limor Livnat called on Sharon to address allegations that he received a $3m from an Austrian billionaire, even as he was about to enter hospital for treatment for his earlier stroke.
Lapid, sacked by Sharon as justice minister in 2004, also said Sharon would have to resign if charges were forthcoming from the police investigation.
Been investigated numerous times
A source close to the Sharon family said that the prime minister had been upset while watching comments by Livnat on television.
"There is no doubt that the attacks of politicians against Sharon on the eve of his hospitalisation had a critical effect on his condition," a source close to the family told the top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily.
Livnat is a close ally of Sharon's arch rival Benjamin Netanyahu, and had been due to resign from the cabinet on Sunday.
Sharon had remained tight-lipped over police claims that they may have evidence to prove his family received the bribe from the Austrian businessman.
Police believe some of the money was used by the family to pay back campaign contributions that were subsequently deemed illegal in Sharon's successful 1999 bid to become leader of the right-wing Likud party.
Sharon has been questioned on a number of occasions in the past three years about campaign finance irregularities but he has escaped any charges.
His son Omri, however, faces the prospect of prison after pleading guilty to charges of providing false testimony and falsifying documents in earlier investigations into the 1999 campaign.
- AFP
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