World reacts to Sharon illness

Ariel Sharon is critically ill in hospital

Regional and world leaders have been giving their reaction to the stroke suffered by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Mr Sharon, 77, had been due to lead his new party, Kadima, in national elections in Israel on 28 March.

Below is a selection of regional and international reaction.

EHUD OLMERT, Acting Israeli Prime Minister

Israel's strength will allow it to face the situation. We will carry on running the country and pray for good news from hospital.

This is a difficult situation which we are not accustomed to. Arik is not only the prime minister and a leader, but a close friend to all of us.

SHIMON PERES, Israeli politician

I am praying for his recovery.

BINYAMIN NETANYAHU, Likud party chairman

As the news came in and the full gravity of the situation became clear, I stopped the meeting [with Likud members] and we rushed to the television sets, like the rest of the Israeli people.

I was thinking of the person I know... of what he is going through, of the fight he is struggling in, and the reaction is shock and solidarity.

Shock because of what he is going through and solidarity with the struggle, and with the hope and with the prayer that he will succeed.

YOSEF "TOMMY" LAPID, leader of Israel's Shinui party

This is a major, major, dramatic change in Israeli political life, first of all because Sharon was a very important leader - perhaps the most important prime minister since Rabin, Begin and Ben Gurion - and secondly, because he just founded a new party which seemed to be heading for a great victory in the elections.

But this party, it's doubtful whether it will survive if he leaves because it's his own party, and because it has no ideology nor any other context except for being Sharon's party.

MAHMOUD ABBAS, Palestinian leader

What happens to Sharon affects Israel first of all and has repercussions for the region but will not lead to a delay in the Palestinian elections.

We see [Sharon's hospitalisation] as an important and serious event and are following with great concern any harm that may come to him.

KOFI ANNAN, UN Secretary General

Statement: The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

He is following developments closely and very much hopes that the prime minister will make a speedy recovery.

His thoughts are with Mr Sharon and his family, as well as with the government and people of Israel.

GEORGE W BUSH, US President

Laura and I share the concerns of the Israeli people about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's health, and we are praying for his recovery.

Prime Minister Sharon is a man of courage and peace. On behalf of all Americans, we send our best wishes and hopes to the prime minister and his family.

JACK STRAW, British Foreign Secretary

He has surprised, I think, everyone with the courage and statesmanship he has shown in recent years to work towards a long-term peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

This is a shock. It is a shock for us, for the people in Israel and the people across the region.

This man is a man of not only great political courage, but of astonishing physical courage and resilience as well.

JACQUES CHIRAC, French President

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.

SILVIO BERLUSCONI, Italian Prime Minister

This is a very painful event on a human level and an absolutely negative one on the political level. [Israel] faces a difficult future in a moment that might have been historic.

There is very, very little hope [for his recovery]. Let's hope for a miracle, a miracle which would be extraordinarily important.

Israeli sources tell us that, even if he should live, there would be no possibility for him to stay in politics.

ANGELA MERKEL, German Chancellor

My thoughts in these hours are with Ariel Sharon and his family. With my whole heart, I wish him a speedy recovery.

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, Iranian President

Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Shatila has joined his ancestors is final.

FAOUZI SALLOUKH, Lebanese Foreign Minister

Whether he dies or not, what we are interested in is that the region reaches a peaceful solution, resolving all the problems.

MUSHIR AL-MASRI, Hamas spokesman

There is no doubt that the Zionist political map will change after his death but the whole region will be better off with him absent than with him present.

Sharon was the one who carried out massacres and terrorism for decades against our people.

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What do you consider Ariel Sharon's impact on the Middle East peace process? What effect might his illness have on the forthcoming Israeli elections? Send us your views.

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