Sharon's reign to 'officially' end

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma for three months, will be declared permanently incapacitated on Tuesday, a decision that will signal the official end of his reign, the Justice Ministry said today.

Sharon, 78, was declared temporarily incapacitated after he lapsed into a coma following a massive stroke on January 4. Ehud Olmert stepped in for him immediately as acting prime minister, but under Israeli law he can only serve in that capacity for up to 100 days before an official replacement for Sharon has to be named.