Hospital officials: comatose former Israeli premier Ariel Sharon undergoes special brain scan

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM - Israeli hospital officials say a comatose former prime minister has undergone a special brain imaging scan.

Inbar Gutter, spokeswoman for Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, said Friday that former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was transferred to the hospital the previous night for the scan.

After a few hours, he was returned to Tel Hashomer hospital in central Israel, where he is being cared for, hospital spokesman Amir Marom said. Officials said the scan was previously scheduled but would not comment on the results.

Israeli media report the scan seeks to determine if Sharon's condition can be improved. Hospital officials would not comment on that claim.

Sharon, 84, led Israel from 2001 until suffering a stroke in 2006. Since then, he has been in a vegetative state, connected to a respirator.