Sharon remains critical but stable

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon remained in a critical but stable condition today, more than two weeks after he suffered a massive stroke, said Hadassah Hospital spokesman Ron Krumer in Jerusalem.

Sharon remains in a coma from the January 4 stroke.

The hospital yesterday said that Sharon underwent successful surgery to replace his breathing tube because of what was termed a “technical problem”.

The 77-year-old Israeli leader, who has been on a respirator, underwent a tracheotomy on Sunday.

He has been taken off anaesthetics that kept him in a medically-induced coma, but has yet to awaken.

Outside experts said his failure to regain consciousness in recent days bodes poorly for his recovery.