Israel’s ex-PM Ariel Sharon dies at 85 after eight years in coma

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died aged 85 after spending eight years in a coma following a stroke. He was a giant of Israel’s military and political scene, but courted controversy throughout his long career.

The head of the Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv said Mr Sharon had died on Saturday afternoon of heart failure. President Shimon Peres said he had built Israel but a senior Palestinian said his path was war and aggression.

Journalists have been camped out at this hospital in central Israel since the start of the month when doctors indicated that the health of the former prime minister had deteriorated. His family – including his two sons, Gilad and Omri – has been here at his bedside and police tried to keep photographers away from them.

The former leader was cared for here for most of the past eight years – during which time he was considered to be in a state of minimal consciousness. His body has now been removed from the hospital. A ministerial committee is deciding on plans for him to lie in state before he is buried at his ranch in the Negev.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama spoke of a leader “who dedicated his life to the State of Israel”.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25696601