Sharon permanently incapacitated: Cabinet

Jerusalem: In an announcement that many had deemed inevitable, Israel's cabinet has declared Premier Ariel Sharon "permanently incapacitated".

The announcement formally ends Sharon's premiership, three months after he suffered a massive stroke.

The unanimous cabinet vote promotes Ehud Olmert from the position of acting PM to the full premiership, although his responsibilities remain the same.

Olmert is currently forming a coalition government after the centrist Kadima party won elections last month.

Ariel Sharon founded Kadima just weeks before suffering a stroke on January 4, 2006.

The change in status will however, only come into effect on April 14, at the end of the 100-day period as laid down by the law.