WORLD REACTION: World leaders yesterday expressed hopes Ariel Sharon would recover from his massive stroke but made clear the Israeli prime minister's dominance of Middle East politics was now over.
Only a miracle would allow the stricken former general to take up the political reins again before the March 28th Israeli parliamentary elections - and some in the region hoped he would succumb to his illness.
"Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Shatila has joined his ancestors is final," said Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to the semi-official students' news agency ISNA.
Sabra and Shatila are the names of refugee camps in Beirut where pro-Israeli Christian militiamen massacred Palestinians after Sharon masterminded the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi said Sharon's illness was very sad.
"There is very, very little hope [for his recovery]. Let's hope for a miracle, a miracle which would be extraordinarily important," he said in a radio interview. "Israeli sources tell us that even if he should live, there is no possibility he can stay in politics," said Mr Berlusconi, a Sharon ally who shifted Italian foreign policy towards a pro-Israeli stance.
French president Jacques Chirac hoped Sharon would "overcome the painful test that he is undergoing". But a statement from Mr Chirac's office seemed to indicate Mr Sharon himself would not be able to pursue his efforts for peace in the Middle East.
"The president of the republic hopes for the continuation of the brave initiatives undertaken by Mr Sharon which have the backing of the whole of the international community," the statement said.
Pope Benedict said: "In these hours, we are praying for peace in the Holy Land, for the Lord to give them a lasting peace."
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana offered Israeli interim prime minister Ehud Olmert "support and solidarity".
Also expressing sympathy were Chancellor Angela Merkel, UN secretary general Kofi Annan and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.