PRIME Minister Ariel Sharon resumed breathing on his own yesterday and moved his right hand and leg in response to stimulation as doctors started weaning him off the sedatives keeping him in a coma.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon moved his right hand and right leg slightly after doctors stimulated him with pain, “a very important” sign about his recovery from a major stroke, doctors said today.

Doctors started waking Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon out of an induced coma today to begin assessing the damage caused by his massive stroke, and he immediately began breathing on his own.

The hospital caring for Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon said early today that there was no change in his condition overnight, and doctors planned to bring him out of a medically induced coma.

A SCAN of Ariel Sharon's brain showed improvement yesterday, and doctors will start bringing the Israeli prime minister out of his medically induced coma today, a hospital official said.

Doctors will start bringing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of his medically induced coma tomorrow – provided there are no changes in his condition, hospital officials said today.

Doctors are to decide today when to begin bringing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of a medically-induced coma more than three days after he suffered a massive stroke – a key to assessing how much brain damage he has suffered.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s brain scan showed a slight easing in swelling and his vital signs are stable, but he remains in critical condition and his life remains in danger, a hospital official said today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent an additional brain scan today as doctors prepared to assess how much damage the Israeli leader has suffered from his severe stroke.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon underwent emergency surgery today after a brain scan revealed a rise in intracranial pressure and some bleeding in his brain.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remained in a stable condition and his cranial pressure was steady, meaning there is no need to drain fluid from his brain, his doctors said today.

ARIEL SHARON could be sedated for up to 72 hours following emergency surgery for a massive stroke, hospital officials said yesterday.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke makes it unlikely that he will return to power.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke makes it unlikely that he will return to power.

THE future of the Middle East hung in the balance last night as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fought for life after emergency brain surgery for his massive stroke.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could be sedated for up to 72 hours following emergency surgery for a massive stroke, hospital officials said today.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon will remain sedated for at least 24 more hours, and continues to be in a stable but serious condition, the director of Hadassah Hospital said today.

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was transferred to intensive care after seven hours of surgery, and his vital signs are stable, the director of Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem said today.

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was rushed to hospital last night after suffering a major stroke and a senior source said he feared there may be no chance of recovery from a brain haemorrhage.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today suffered a “significant” stroke with “massive bleeding” in his brain, a hospital official said.