Beiruting News

Actor Omar Sharif, who starred Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago in the 1960s, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The 83-year-old star's agent confirmed the news to the Associated Press.

It comes after his son Tarek gave an interview to Spain's El Mundo newspaper at the weekend.

"It's difficult to determine what stage it's at," he told the paper. "It's obvious he'll never improve and it will get worse."

Egypt-born Sharif won two Golden Globe awards and an Oscar nomination for his role as Sherif Ali in David Lean's 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.

He won a further Golden Globe three years later for Doctor Zhivago.