Former Israeli president Shimon Peres 'stable' after induced coma following stroke

Former Israeli president Shimon Peres, 93, is "stable" after he was put into an induced coma and placed on a respirator following a stroke.

Israeli TV stations, citing hospital officials, said Mr Peres had suffered from bleeding to the brain and described his condition as serious.

Earlier a spokeswoman, Ayelet Frisch, said he was in stable condition and fully conscious after being rushed to hospital.

Mr Peres' son-in-law and personal physician Rafi Valdan said the family is optimistic he will recover, but that it was too early to tell whether there may be lasting neurological damage following the stroke which afflicted the right-side of his brain.

Dr Itzik Kreiss, of the Sheba Medical Centre Director, said on Wednesday: "Mr Peres this morning is stable. In a critical condition, but stable. We are moving him to the neurosurgical intensive care unit and we are going to keep on the multidisciplinary evaluation by our expert teams."

In a message posted on Facebook, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Mr Peres a speedy recovery.

"Shimon, we love you and the entire nation wishes you get well," he said.

Peres stepped down as president in 2014 at the end of a seven-year term.

He suffered a heart attack in January this year.