'Big Improvement' in Sharon's Condition

The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, was showing a "big improvement" in his condition after suffering a mild stroke yesterday, his aides said today.

Officials said the 77-year-old remained in control of government and was now able to walk around his hospital room and shower unattended.

After visiting him this morning, the cabinet secretary, Israel Maimon, said: "He looks excellent". Aides said the prime minister was "lucid ... fully functional" and in good spirits, talking and joking with staff.

If necessary, the deputy prime minister, Ehud Olmert, would take over the day to day running of the government. However, Mr Maimon said this would not be needed.

Mr Sharon was admitted to the Hadassah hospital, in Jerusalem, last night after his speech became confused following a meeting with the former prime minister Shimon Peres, who is supporting his new Kandima party.

On its website, the daily Ha'aretz newspaper reported that one of its journalists had spoken to the prime minsiter late last night.

"I'm fine," the report quoted Mr Sharon as saying. "Apparently I should have taken a few days off for vacation. But we're continuing to move forward," he said - a play on the word Kadima, which means "forward".

Doctors said initial tests had shown that Mr Sharon suffered a mild stroke. He had another MRI scan this morning, and will undergo medical evaluations during the day which could determine when he was discharged.

Last night, the prime minister's personal doctor, Boleslaw Goldman, said he expected him to be in hospital for three or four days.

Mr Sharon - who has been the prime minister since 2001 - was treated with blood thinners and suffered no damage from his stroke, Mr Goldman said, adding: "Unequivocally, there is no damage."

Today, Reuters reported that Ilan Cohen, the head of Mr Sharon's office, said there was a "big improvement" in his condition. "He was walking around. He was joking," he added.

"As soon as there is reliable medical information, you'll receive it immediately. I suppose he'll make a statement as he is fully conscious."

Doctors said the prime minister had never lost consciousness and was talking with his family hours after arriving at the hospital last night. He was visited by his sons, Omri and Gilad, and his adviser and friend Dov Weissglass.

In recent years, the health of prime ministerial candidates in Israel has become a major issue. Both Golda Meir and Menachem Begin concealed serious illnesses from the electorate.

Mr Sharon, who is overweight, has never released his medical records, but in recent years has insisted he is not suffering from any serious ailments.

He last night received messages of support from the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, and the US envoy, Elliot Abrams.

In Gaza, however, dozens of armed men from the Popular Resistance Committees, a small Palestinian militant group, fired guns in the air and shouted: "Sharon is dead".

The gunmen handed out pastries to drivers on the streets of Gaza City in celebration of the news that the Israeli prime minister was ill.

Palestinian militants see Mr Sharon - who has led Israel's fight against the Palestinian intifada - as a bitter enemy, despite his pullout from the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

Last month, he resigned from the Likud party after opposition from hardliners over the Gaza withdrawal. Likud members were today voting to elect a new leader, with the main contenders being the former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign minister, Silvan Shalom.