Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said on Friday that he was "very worried" about Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's condition.

Peres made the statement as Sharon was undergoing an emergency surgery to reduce intracranial pressure and stem fresh cerebral bleeding at a Jerusalem hospital.

Peres, a political ally of Sharon, also called upon all the Israelis to lend support to Sharon.

Peres, long-time member of the center-left Labor party and veteran Israeli politician, has pledged support to Sharon's newly- founded centrist Kadima party.

Polls released on Friday showed that Kadima would garner more seats than rival parties in the coming March 28 general elections even without Sharon.

The 77-year-old Sharon, almost certain to win re-election, was currently receiving the third surgery in 48 hours and doctors said he was unlikely to resume office in the future.

The deteriorating condition of Sharon, whose absence from office will leave a huge political vacuum, has cast more uncertainty to the prospects of the Mideast peace process.

Source: Xinhua