Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery today, his seventh operation in five weeks, after an abdominal scan disclosed severe damage to his digestive tract.

Ariel Sharon is expected to make a full recovery after suffering a mild stroke and will be released from hospital tomorrow, his doctors said today.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas wants to postpone parliamentary elections until November, hoping to recapture some of the popular support his ruling Fatah party has lost, a spokesman for the Hamas militant group said today.