Prince Rainier clings to life through respirator

MONACO'S ailing Prince Rainier clung to life today, breathing through a respirator in an intensive care unit, with doctors refusing to say whether he might recover and his subjects praying that he will.

A health bulletin signed by three doctors appeared grim, saying the state of health of the 81-year-old Rainier head of Europe's longest-ruling dynasty "remained worrisome."

The prince was suffering heart, kidney and breathing problems and the doctors withheld a prognosis, suggesting the outcome was uncertain.