Related story: Abbas carefully follows news on Sharon's illness

   JERUSALEM, Dec. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was in a stable condition after he was rushed to a Jerusalem hospital on Sunday evening apparently for a minor stroke, said local media reports. 
  

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son Omri arrives at the Hadassah hospital in Ein Kerem on the western outskirts of Jerusalem, where his 77-year-old father was rushed after suffering a minor stroke and losing consciousness.(Xinhua/AFP photo)

    Channel 2 TV said 77-year-old Sharon was taken to the Hadassah University Hospital after complaining of not feeling well.

   Channel 10 TV quoted the hospital as saying that the prime minister's life was not in danger.

   In an official statement made some 45 minutes after Sharon arrived, a spokesman of the hospital told the press that Sharon was fully conscious and was undergoing tests, adding the results of the tests would be made known later.

   Yuval Weiss, deputy manager of the hospital, said that "Ariel Sharon was brought here at about 20:00 (1800 GMT). He has full consciousness and he's undergoing medical examinations."

   Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ehud Olmert will take over as premier until Sharon recovers.

  

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's personal physician Dr. Bolek Goldman speaks to the media outside Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital where Sharon was hospitalized Sunday Dec. 18, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

    Sharon's younger son Gilad arrived at the hospital shortly after his father, while another son Omri, who followed his father into politics, headed for Hadassah soon afterwards, with Olmert and Sahron's senior aide Dov Weissglas.

   According to Channel 2, Sharon was hospitalized a little before 20:00 (1800 GMT) and was taken straight to the trauma room. 

   The Prime Minister's Office said that the decision to hospitalize the prime minister was taken after he said he did not feel well while working in his office.

   Shas Party chairman Eli Yishai and Labor Party leader Amir Peretz have wished Sharon a speedy recovery, said Channel 2. Enditem