Sharon to be moved to another hospital - official

JERUSALEM, May 25 (Reuters) Israel's Ariel Sharon, who has been comatose in a Jerusalem hospital since suffering a stroke in January, will be moved to a long-term care clinic next week, a hospital spokeswoman said today.

The 78-year-old former prime minister and ex-general suffered a massive brain haemorrhage on January 4 and was categorised as permanently incapacitated last month.

His deputy, Ehud Olmert, took over as interim leader and formally assumed office this month after his Kadima party won most seats in March elections.

A spokeswoman for Jerusalem's Hadassah hospital, where Sharon has been since his stroke, said the Israeli leader would be moved next week to the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre at Tel Hashomer near Tel Aviv.

Chances of recovery for victims of haemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in the brain, are slim.

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