Doctor: Sharon's life in danger

2006-02-11 11:04

Jerusalem - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's life is in danger, a hospital spokesman said on Saturday, after doctors discovered a "serious deterioration" in his digestive tract.

"One could say that the life of the prime minister is in danger," said Ron Krumer, spokesman for the Haddasah hospital in Jerusalem where Sharon is being treated.

"A serious deterioration of his digestive tract was discovered after an examination and doctors decided to operate," Krumer added.

The 77-year-old premier was hospitalised on January 4 after suffering a massive stroke and has been comatose since then, although doctors have been trying to gradually bring him out of the coma.

Since his collapse, Ehud Olmert has stepped in as acting prime minister and Israelis are growing accustomed to political life without Sharon, focused more on the prospect of a Hamas-run government in the Palestinian territories and next month's election in Israel.

- AFP