Monday, December 19 2005 11:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a mild stroke, but his condition quickly improved, his doctors said. Aides said he was expected to be hospitalized for a few days and he still was in control of the Government.

The Prime Minister never lost consciousness and was talking and joking with his family hours after he arrived in the hospital yesterday, doctors said. He was treated with blood thinners and suffered no damage from the stroke, said Boleslaw Goldman, Sharon's personal doctor.

"He's lucid, he's fully functional," said Sharon aide Raanan Gissin.

Sharon, 77 and very overweight, has been a political fixture of Israeli politics for more than three decades. His illness came a little more than three months before he was to lead his new Kadima Party into national elections, and his illness could hamper his efforts to finish building the nascent centrist faction, which has a commanding lead in the polls.

The stroke was almost certain to make Sharon's health a major campaign issue, but it would have little immediate effect on Israeli policy or peace efforts, since no major decisions were expected during the campaign.

The Web site of the Haaretz daily reported that one of its reporters spoke to Sharon late yesterday (Dec 18,2005)night.

"I'm fine," Haaretz quoted him as saying. "Apparently I should have taken a few days off for vacation. But we're continuing to move forward," he said, making a play on the name of his party, Kadima, which means forward.

"Sharon received get well messages from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and U.S. envoy Elliot Abrams, who was speaking on behalf of the U.S. Government, "Gissin said.

In Gaza, however, dozens of armed men from the Popular Resistance Committees, a small Palestinian militant group, fired guns in the air, screamed 'Sharon is dead' and handed out pastries to motorists on the streets of Gaza City in celebration of the news that Sharon was ill.

Palestinian militants view Sharon, who led Israel's fight against the five-year Palestinian uprising, as a hated enemy, despite his pullout from the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

"Their celebration is a bit premature and exaggerated the Prime Minister is very well," Gissin said.

Sharon grew weak and confused yesterday evening soon after a meeting with former Prime Minister Shimon Peres. The premier was immediately rushed to the hospital in his official vehicle and he was taken directly to the emergency room, media reports said. Sharon's sons, Omri and Gilad, rushed to the hospital to be by his side.

"Initial checks showed he had a mild stroke. And during checks his condition improved. He was always conscious and didn't need any surgical intervention," said Yuval Weiss, deputy director of the hospital.

Goldman, Sharon's personal doctor, said the Prime Minister did not lose consciousness, was having no problems with his motor skills and he was certain the Prime inister would fully recover.