Former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon dies at 85January 11, 2014 - 19:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died aged 85 after spending eight years in a coma following a stroke, according to BBC News. He was a giant of Israel's military and political scene, but courted controversy throughout his long career. The head of the Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv said Sharon had died on Saturday, Jan 11 afternoon of heart failure. PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he was a great warrior but a senior Palestinian said his path was war and aggression. Sharon fought in Israel's war of independence in 1948, and from that point until he slipped into a coma in 2006 it seemed there was hardly a moment of national drama in which he did not play a role, BBC says. The 85-year-old became PM in 2001 and in 2005 completed a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, barely a year before he suffered a massive stroke. His health had declined for the past week and a half, Sheba Medical Centre Director Professor Shlomo Noy told reporters. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |