Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was undergoing a new surgery aimed at reducing cranial pressure and stemming fresh cerebral bleeding on Friday, director of the Hadassah Hospital confirmed.

Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef told reporters briefly that a rise in cranial pressure and some fresh bleeding were the reason for Sharon being taken back to the operation room.

He said that the surgery was designed to reduce the blood pressure inside Sharon's skull by draining the fresh blood.

About half an hour ago, Yael Bossam Levy, a spokeswoman for the Hadassah hospital said Sharon underwent a brain scan to check for bleeding.

Earlier, TV reports said that acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres were en route to the hospital, but the report has not been confirmed.

The 77-year-old Sharon is in a medically induced coma and doctors said that the sedation is expected to last at least till Sunday.

Sharon's sudden grave illness has cast great uncertainty to the upcoming Israeli general elections slated for March 28 and the prospects of the Mideast peace process.

Source: Xinhua