Doctors to bring Sharon out of 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.

Hadassah Hospital director Dr Shlomo Mor-Yosef said Mr Sharon remained in critical condition, but his vital signs, including the pressure inside his skull, were normal.

"His condition is still critical but stable, and there is improvement in the CT picture of the brain," he said.