Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could still regain consciousness, even though he has been comatose since suffering a massive stroke on Jan. 4, Hadassah Hospital Director Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef said on Monday.

At a conference at Tel Aviv University, Mor-Yosef was quoted by Israel's Army Radio as saying that "there is a chance the prime minister will wake up."

"The chances aren't great but it's not a situation that can be ruled out," Mor-Yosef was cited.

The Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem has been treating the comatose prime minister, 78, since he was hospitalized for a massive stroke on Jan. 4.

Mor-Yosef said the condition of Sharon is still serious but stable.

"Before making this announcement, I spoke with the director of the Prime Minister's Office and the government secretary-general, who both spoke with the Attorney General," Mor-Yosef was cited.

Source: Xinhua