Sharon rushed for one more surgery

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who suffered a massive brain haemorrhage on Wednesday night, was on Friday rushed to the operating theatre for an emergency surgery after a brain scan revealed a rise in inter-cranial pressure and bleeding, doctors said.

This is the second surgery on the 77-year-old Israeli PM in 24 hours following a marathon 7-hour operation on Thursday.

The brain scan also indicated a change in Sharon's blood pressure, Hadassah Hospital Director Shlomo Mor-Yosef said.

"It was decided to transfer the prime minister to the operating theatre in order to deal with two issues: drain the bleeding and reduce the pressure in his skull," he said.

Doctors had earlier said that the prime minister, who is fighting for his life after suffering a severe stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, will be sedated and remain on a respirator at least until Sunday.

• Images: A Bulldozer to the end

"The goal of the sedation is to lower the oxygen needs of the brain and to allow the brain to rest. So certainly until Sunday, he will be sedated," Deputy Director of Hadassah Shmuel Shapira said.

Sources at the hospital said that even if Sharon makes a miraculous recovery he won't be in a mental and physical shape to resume his duties.