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| Ariel Sharon condition 'worsens' | Ariel Sharon condition 'worsens' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The health of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma since 2006, has deteriorated further, hospital officials say. | The health of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma since 2006, has deteriorated further, hospital officials say. |
| His condition has worsened in the last hours and his family is at his side, according to a statement from Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv. | |
| The 85-year-old, who became PM in 2001, is suffering from a malfunction of several organs including the kidneys. | The 85-year-old, who became PM in 2001, is suffering from a malfunction of several organs including the kidneys. |
| He has been in a persistent vegetative state since a stroke in 2006. | He has been in a persistent vegetative state since a stroke in 2006. |
| Doctors said last week that his health was showing signs of "a slow and gradual deterioration" and his life was in danger. | |
| He is still described as in a critical condition. | |
| The former leader is known as the architect of the withdrawal of Israeli troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005. | |
| Aside from a long political career, Mr Sharon is seen as a great military leader by Israelis, having fought in four Israeli wars. However, he is reviled by Palestinians. | |
| He was held partially responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in refugee camps in Beirut by Lebanese Christian militiamen in 1983. | |
| He was nevertheless elected prime minister 18 years later, pledging to achieve "security and true peace". | |
| As prime minister, Mr Sharon was a keen promoter of the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. He also initiated the construction of the controversial West Bank barrier following a wave of deadly attacks by Palestinian militants who were able to get into Israel. | |
| But in 2005, despite fierce opposition in Israel, he ordered the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip. | |
| In that year, he left his Likud Party to establish the centrist Kadima Party and appeared headed for re-election when he suffered the major stroke in 2006. |