Georgian leaders saddened by death of former Israeli PM

Georgias top two leaders have expressed their condolences following the death of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The countrys President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, paid their respects to the fallen former leader and sent messages of support overnight.

Sharon, 85, died after spending eight years in a coma following a stroke.

In a letter to the current President of Israel Shimon Peres, Margvelashvili said Sharon was "remarkable and monumental.

"Your Excellency, I was deeply distressed upon receiving information about the death of Ariel Sharon. Jewish people have lost its greatest son.

"Ariel Sharon, a remarkable and monumental figure, made a special contribution to building the state of Israel, in strengthening its democracy and security, and he rightly won peoples love, Margvelashvili wrote in his condolences letter.

The President said that in this time of sorrow, Georgia shared the pain of the Jewish people and expressed solidarity with them.

"Please pass the most sincere condolence of Georgian citizens, and mine, to the family of Ariel Sharon and the entire population of Israel, Margvelashvili said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Garibashvili said Sharon was an "outstanding leader of Israel.

"I express my deepest sorrow over the death of the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. He was a prominent leader and played a major role in the recent history of Israel, Garibashvili said.