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Sharon undergoes emergency surgery

Atul Aneja

Doctors fear irreversible brain damage to the Israeli Prime Minister

DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition appeared to have deteriorated, as he had to undergo another emergency operation after a scan revealed fresh bleeding in his brain.

Shlomo Mor-Yosef, the director of the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem where Mr. Sharon was admitted on Wednesday night following a massive cerebral haemorrhage, said that the scan showed an enlargement of the ventricle. He added that doctors were trying to drain excess blood in order to relieve the pressure. Mr. Sharon had undergone a seven-hour operation on Wednesday night, following his illness.

Ehud Olmert, Mr. Sharon's Deputy, has taken over as caretaker Prime Minister.

Dr. Mor-Yosef said earlier in the afternoon that Mr. Sharon had to be taken to the operation theatre for emergency surgery. Before the operation, doctors said they were planning to keep Mr. Sharon sedated and on a respirator at least until Sunday, to give him a chance to recover. Dr. Mor-Yosef added that predictions for the future were almost impossible to make. "We can't know what the results of the surgery will be, whether it will have influenced his motor skills or his ability to think. Only after he comes out of the induced coma will we be able to make an assessment." Mr. Sharon had recently formed a new political party, Kadima (forward), after breaking ranks with the Right-wing Likud party. A survey published by Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper on Friday said Kadima led by Mr. Olmert would win 39 of the Knesset's 120 seats, with Labour party capturing 20 seats and Likud 16.

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