Israel's Sharon remains critical but stable, still hooked up to a respirator

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remained in critical but stable condition and was still hooked up to a respirator on Saturday after suffering a massive stroke Jan. 4, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Raanan Gissin, Sharon's adviser, said on Friday that doctors were considering taking Sharon off the respirator over the weekend, but Hadassah Hospital spokeswoman Yael Bossem-Levy said the prime minister was still on the ventilator, AP reported. V.A.