Deeply concerned about the health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday wished the leader a quick recovery.

In a statement released through his spokesman, Annan said "he is following developments closely and very much hopes that the Prime Minister will make a speedy recovery."

The secretary-general's "thoughts are with Sharon and his family, as well as with the government and people of Israel," the spokesman told reporters in New York.

The spokesman also added that Annan had been in touch with Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations on the issue, and discussed Sharon's health and the situation in the Middle East with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday evening.