'On the edge of the abyss'

2006-01-14 19:03

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains in a coma.

Israeli radio is reporting the premier's condition as "on the edge of the abyss", leaving Israelis increasingly resigned to a future without the man who has long dominated politics in the Jewish state.

For several days, the surgical team at Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital has been weaning Sharon, 77, off the drugs that placed him in an artificial coma.

The country's radio stations report his continued failure to respond to treatment means it would now be a "miracle" if a man of his age regained consciousness.

Sharon underwent three rounds of surgery to stem bleeding in his brain after being brought down by two successive strokes.

Sharon's deputy, Israeli finance minister Ehud Olmert, has taken over the reigns of both the country and the new centrist Kadima party, which Sharon formed six weeks before his first stroke.

Israel is due to hold elections in six weeks' time.

Olmert continues to enjoy high poll ratings but critics feel he lacks Sharon's charisma and faces a huge task in navigating the security and political problems facing Israel - beginning with this month's Palestinian elections on January 25.

Hammas defies restrictions

Four ministers from the right-wing Likud - the party Olmert and Sharon quit in November - have resigned over the participation of the Arab residents of east Jerusalem in the Palestinian elections.

The Israeli cabinet is meeting on Sunday to give its final approval to the voting, but misgivings remain about the participation of the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas's ruling Fatah faction defied Israel with an unauthorised campaign launch in east Jerusalem on Saturday.

Abbas has called on the Jewish state to lift all restrictions on electioneering if it was serious about its claims to be a "champion of democracy".

Israel has banned Hamas from campaigning in east Jerusalem.

Other candidates are to use authorised sites for campaign posters and seek prior police permission for all electoral gatherings.

- AFP