Merkel sends condolences on Sharon's death

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has conveyed her condolences to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Saturday. The chancellor "is mourning with the Israeli people" for Sharon, who was also committed to deepening the German-Israeli relations, Seibert said. Sharon was an Israeli patriot and has rendered great service to his country, the spokesman added. "With his courageous decision to withdraw Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip, he took a historic step on the path to a deal with the Palestinians and a two-state solution," said the spokesman. Sharon died on Saturday at the age of 85. He had been in a coma for the past eight years since he suffered a stroke in January 2006.