JERUSALEM, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem said on Wednesday afternoon that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continued showing slight improvement in his condition but remained under slight sedation.

Israeli soldiers stand on guard outside the Hadassah Hospital, Jan. 11. Doctors said earlier in the day that they would by Wednesday evening halt the sedatives that have kept Sharon in a medically induced coma for the past week. (Xinhua photo)

   Sharon has been receiving treatment in the hospital since he suffered a severe stroke and cerebral hemorrhage last week.

   "During the day, there was an additional improvement as seen through the different neurological tests carried out by his doctors. The prime minister still needs a very low dosage of sedatives," the hospital said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

   "Sharon's situation continues to be serious but stable," the statement added.

   Doctors said earlier in the day that they would by Wednesday evening halt the sedatives that have kept Sharon in a medically induced coma for the past week.

   The decision to gradually reduce the dosage of sedatives came after a round of consultation by the treating team at Hadassah on Monday, based on the stable but serious condition of Sharon, who had undergone three surgeries in his brain.

   Sharon, 77, has been showing slight improvement day by day ever since Monday.

   Right after doctors began efforts to gradually bring him out of that coma on Monday, Sharon began to breathe on his own and even moved his right arm and leg in response to pain stimuli.

   On Tuesday, he continued to show increased movement on the right side and also moved his left arm in response to stimulation,which was an encouraging sign for further improvement, doctors said.

   Since the stroke occurred in his right brain, which controls the left side of his body, the movement of his left arm on Tuesday was significant, doctors believed.

   Meanwhile, they stressed that the extent of brain damage and Sharon's ability to think and reason can only be assessed after the sedation is completely weaned off.

   On the stunning progress Sharon has made after undergoing an intense week of medical treatment, Dr, Yoram Weiss, one of Sharon's anesthesiologists told reporters Tuesday that it was like five yards baking away from the edge of the cliff.

   Doctors cautioned that there is still a long way to go in the prime minister's recovery. Enditem