Adriana Chircop has urged people to pray for her husband, Labour MP Karl Chircop who is still in a coma after suffering a stroke yesterday week.

"Please continue praying for him," she said when contacted yesterday afternoon.

She thanked people for their support and sympathy during the past week. Messages of support have deluged timesofmalta.com, with many describing Dr Chircop as a gentleman and capable politician. Over the weekend, Mrs Chircop posted her own comment on this paper's website, thanking those who are praying for her husband.

"I thank those supporting and praying for Karl because, yes, your prayers are being heard," she said, describing every day as "a miracle".

"The love, respect and sincere outpouring of solidarity is a reflection of all that he has given to society," she wrote.

The parliamentarian, who turned 43 on Thursday, collapsed on Sunday evening with what has been described by the Health Division and the Labour Party as a cerebral haemorrhage caused by a stroke.

Mrs Chircop yesterday said her husband collapsed as he went to the garage to wash the wheels of his car.

Although his children had already washed the car, the family doctor - whose wife described him as "a perfectionist" - decided to give them another scrub.