JERUSALEM, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was rushed to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem late Wednesday after complaining of chest pain, his office and Channel 10 TV said.

   The prime minister initially complained of feeling chest pressure and pain and said he was not feeling well.

   Israeli media reported that Sharon apparently suffered another stroke or possibly a heart ailment since his symptoms were similar to those he showed on Dec. 18, when he suffered a mild stroke.

   Sharon's spokesman was quoted by Channel 10 as saying that the symptoms were not severe and Sharon was conscious, able to speak, but was suffering from some weakness.

   Sharon was at his home in the Sycamore Ranch in southern Israel, preparing for his planned catheterization procedure on Thursday morning at the same hospital.

   He is scheduled to undergo a heart procedure Thursday morning which involves a general anesthetic and will last three hours.

   During Sharon's hospitalization, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will take over as acting prime minister.

   Sharon, 78, was taken to Hadassah Hospital from his office on Dec. 18 after suffering a mild stroke.

   Doctors said he will not suffer long-term effects from the stroke, but they discovered a birth defect in his heart that apparently contributed to the stroke.

   Sharon has been receiving blood thinners to prevent a recurrence of the clotting that caused the stroke. Enditem