Sharon, dubbed as butcher of Sabra and Shatila refugee camps massacre, died on Saturday after spending eight years in coma, Israeli Army radio said, quoting a relative of his family.

The massacres of Palestinians at Sabra and Shatila refugee camps which took place in1982 claimed the lives of at least 800 civilians.

Outside occupied lands, international human rights groups have long argued that Sharon should have been tried for his historical war crimes.

Sharon was the prime minister of the Tel Aviv regime from 2001 to 2006.

RA/SHI