Israel's former PM Sharon in "sharp decline"

Doctors treating the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon say he is close to death as his health continues to decline.

The 85-year-old has been on life support since suffering a stroke in 2006 and his condition worsened sharply this week after his vital organs failed.

Professor Zeev Rotstein, Director of the Sheba Medical Centre said: “We are not prophets. So we cannot see the future, but according his situation and looking at the trend of deterioration, it doesn’t give us good signs for the future.”

Sharon is one of Israel’s most famous generals and a state funeral is planned. He left his mark on the region through military invasion, Jewish settlement building on captured land and a shock, unilateral decision to pull Israeli troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.