Doctors in Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital decided on Sunday to bring Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon out of a medically induced coma on Monday, the hospital director said.

Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef told reporters that after reviewing the latest CT scan on his brain, the doctors decided to reduce the dosage of medicine which has kept Sharon in the coma since he was admitted to the hospital Wednesday night.

After that, the doctors will test Sharon's neurological functioning, the director said, adding that more details will be disclosed around noon Monday.

The director said Sharon remained in critical condition, but all his vital signs were within normal limits.

Sharon has undergone three surgeries since he was rushed to the hospital Wednesday night for a major stroke.

His hospitalization cast uncertainty over the March 28 general elections in Israel, which his newly founded Kadima party is poised to take a lead over the right-wing Likud he quit in November and the center-left Labor party.

Further more, Sharon's death or incapacitation will create a vacuum in Israeli politics and dashed peace hopes raised by Israel 's withdrawal of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in September under Sharon's disengagement plan.

Source: Xinhua