Sunday, January 8 2006 17:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert insisted today (Jan 8,2006) that the Israeli Government was functioning with its leader in a coma, as he chaired the first regular cabinet meeting without Ariel Sharon.

"Israel's democracy is strong and its institutions are functioning seriously and as they should," he said in comments broadcast by public radio.

Olmert said he was determined to get on with business but extended his wishes for Sharon's recovery after he suffered a massive brain haemorrhage.

"We convey to him our wishes for his recovery and hope he can again take up the reins of Israel," he said.

"If I could talk to him today, I am sure Arik would tell me ,'Thanks for your wishes, but you must work to safeguard the safety and economy of Israel' and that is what we will do. "Over the last days, we have all heard the reports on the state of the Prime Minister's health and we were happy to hear there is a glimmer of hope," Olmert added.

Government officials quoted by the media said that the sensitive matter of whether to allow Arabs living in annexed east Jerusalem to vote in this month's Palestinian elections may be dealt with at the cabinet meeting.

Olmert, finance minister and one of Sharon's deputy Prime Ministers, was handed the reins of power after Sharon suffered a massive brain haemorrhage late Wednesday.

The Finance Minister chaired an emergency meeting of the cabinet on Thursday but today was the first time normal Government business was to come under discussion, including the highly sensitive issue of voting in east Jerusalem.