Ex- Israeli PM Ariel Sharon dead at 85

Jerusalem: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a hardliner revered by his countrymen as ‘Mr Security’ and reviled across the Arab world as the ‘butcher of Sabra and Shatila’, died on Saturday at the age of 85 after being comatose for eight years.
“The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer announces with sorrow the death of Mr Ariel Sharon who passed about an hour ago,” hospital spokesman Shlomo Noy said.
“Today his heart weakened and he peacefully departed from his family who were always at his side with love and support.”
Sharon was elected prime minister in 2001 and served until he suffered a massive stroke that left him comatose on January 4, 2006. His condition deteriorated on New Year’s day, when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery. He died at around 1200 GMT (5:30 pm IST) despite efforts to stabilise him, the hospital said. (PTI)