Hamas says region 'will be better off' without Sharon

Arab reaction to the stroke which felled Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was mixed, with rulers and commentators expressing concern over his prospects - and many citizens celebrating his political demise.

However, Sateh Noureddin, managing editor of Beirut's al-Safir daily, predicted the repercussions of Mr Sharon's absence would be mainly limited to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called Israeli officials to secure an update on his condition, while Palestinian prime minister Ahmad Korei sent a letter to acting premier Ehud Olmert, saying prayers were being said for Mr Sharon and wishing him "a full and quick recovery".

The offices of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Jordanian King Abdullah - leaders of the Arab countries with peace treaties with Israel - contacted Mr Sharon's aides to inquire about his health.

Palestinian deputy premier Nabil Shaath spoke for a majority of Palestinians and Arabs when he said he did not believe Mr Sharon ever had any faith in the peace process. Dr Shaath said: "On a purely humanitarian level, we feel sorry for Mr Sharon," but warned that his "absence will increase uncertainty over resuming negotiations. No one can predict what will happen."

Other Palestinian officials said uncertainty in Israel could also overshadow or even lead to the postponement of Palestinian parliamentary elections on January 25th. Two US envoys had been set to meet Mr Sharon yesterday, to ask him to reverse a ban on Palestinian voting in east Jerusalem because the Islamic Hamas movement is contesting the election.

Mr Abbas has said he would cancel balloting if Palestinian Jerusalemites are excluded.

Were Mr Olmert to stick to Mr Sharon's rejection or delay a decision, Palestinian chief negotiator Dr Saeb Erekat said the election could not take place.

In his view, Mr Sharon's exit could change all the rules of the game and provoke violence. Palestinians could again become "victims" and "pay the price of a power struggle in Israel [ which could] lead to an intensification of settlements and assassinations [ of Palestinian figures]".

Hamas spokesmen, both in Gaza and abroad, insisted that the election should go ahead. Opinion polls show that Hamas could win 25 per cent of the seats in the legislative council if the poll takes place.

Usamah Hamdan, a key figure in the movement, said political turmoil in Israel could enable the Palestinians to "conduct an election without pressures".

Ghazi Saadi, a Palestinian commentator speaking on the pan-Arab al-Jazeera satellite channel, took the opposite line.

He said: "A live Sharon is better for the Palestinians now, despite the crimes he has committed against us . . . He is the first Israeli leader who stopped claiming Israel had a right to all the Palestinians' land."

Palestinians who suffered during Mr Sharon's military offensives in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon welcomed Mr Sharon's illness, as did militant organisations. "The whole region will be better off with him absent," proclaimed Hamas. "Sharon was the one who carried out massacres and terrorism for decades against our people."

Ahmad Jibril, head of the Palestinian Popular Front - General Command, stated from Damascus: "We thank God for this gift He presented to us in the new year."

Palestinian legislator and spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi voiced the opinion of many Arabs when she asserted: "Sharon was a strong and charismatic leader who steered [ Israeli] politics toward the right and extremism. Now it is clear that Israel needs a leadership that proceeds firmly towards peace, or the extremist right will hijack the situation."