Special report:Israeli PM Ariel Sharon in critical condition

    JERUSALEM, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel's temporary finance committee of the Knesset (parliament) met Monday morning to discuss continued government funding of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's medical care, Army Radio reported.

    Sharon, 78, was declared "permanently incapacitated" on April 11, therefore, he is not necessarily entitled to have his hospitalization and contingent costs paid for out of the government budget, the report said.

    The report said Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ilan Cohen has sent an urgent letter to the finance committee chairman and asked that an exception to the rule be made in Sharon's case. Sharon has been in a coma for over three months since he suffered a massive stroke on Jan. 4. Sharon's deputy Olmert took over as acting prime minister immediately after he was declared temporarily incapacitated.

    Under the law, Sharon can only serve in that capacity for up to 100 days before an official replacement for Sharon is named. Three weeks ago, two senior neurosurgeons from Dan region hospitals have examined Sharon, who remains in a coma at Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem.

    The physicians are considering an operation next week to reattach the quarter of his skull that was removed during brain operations nearly three months ago.

    The operation, to be performed for esthetic purposes, would be part of preparations to move him to a long-term care institution.

    Moshe Hadani of Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer and ZviRappaport of Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva examined Sharon on Wednesday. Sharon's doctors and family have not yet decided when and where to transfer him. Enditem