Sharon faces operation on hole in heart

Ariel Sharon

JERUSALEM - Ariel Sharon is to undergo a heart operation to close a small hole likely to have led to the stroke he had just over a week ago.

The announcement that the Prime Minister, 77, is to have the treatment in the next month will ensure his health continues to be a matter of public debate in what are the preliminary stages of the Israeli election campaign.

The Prime Minister's Office disclosed medical records saying that, though Sharon's powers of speech were affected for several hours by the stroke on December 18, it had no impact "on his memory and other faculties".

Dr Tamir Ben-Hur, the head of neurology at Hadassah hospital, said: "There is no injury to the brain. The PM is in exactly the same state now as he was the day before he was hospitalised."

Some gaps in public knowledge were filled by the disclosures - including an official statement that Sharon weighed 115kg.

The Prime Minister provoked laughter at Sunday's Cabinet meeting by warning Israelis not to over-indulge in the foods traditional during the eight-day Hanukkah holiday.

"Eating is permissible, but I recommend that you not overdo it," he said.

- INDEPENDENT