Italy's Berlusconi to stay in hospital after attack

Italy's Berlusconi to stay in hospital after attack

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The prime minister was assaulted after a rally

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi will stay in hospital at least until Tuesday after having his nose broken by an attacker, doctors say.

A medical bulletin reported in the Italian media said Mr Berlusconi was able to eat, but only with difficulty.

Mr Berlusconi, 73, suffered a broken nose, two broken teeth and a cut lip after being hit with a model of Milan cathedral after a rally in the city.

A 42-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with aggravated assault.

The suspect, Massimo Tartaglia, was said by police to have had a history of mental illness, receiving treatment over a 10-year period.



The medical bulletin released at midday on Monday said Mr Berlusconi was taking pain killers and antibiotics.

His nose is to be reset and he has been given stitches, though he will not need surgery.

Mr Berlusconi's doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, has said it could take a few weeks for the prime minister to fully recover.

"I found him shaken, embittered, as if he had been woken from a bad dream really disheartened," he was quoted as saying.

Earlier, Italian news agency Ansa reported that Mr Berlusconi had spent a settled night at the San Raffaele hospital.

His first request upon waking up in the hospital in Milan was to see some newspapers, the agency said.

The Italian leader is believed to have been struck full in the face by the souvenir cathedral while signing autographs.

Dazed

After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi  after being struck in face

He got out and tried to climb on the car to show he was all right, before being driven away.

And upon arrival at the hospital the prime minister, who had blood all over his face, said he was fine.

There are said to have been scuffles between hecklers and security staff during the rally and before the attack.

At the hospital, Mr Berlusconi's spokesman, Paolo Bonaiuti said he was worried about the "atmosphere of hatred and violence in the air".

The attack was condemned by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, while conservative Gianfranco Fini said: "This is truly a bad day for Italy, and it's the duty of all the political forces to ensure that Italy does not go back to the years of violence."


Umberto Bossi, leader of the far-right Northern League, said what had happened was an "act of terrorism" and called the attack "a worrying sign".

Mr Berlusconi has been under pressure in recent months.

His private life has been in the spotlight, amid allegations that he slept with prostitutes, and after his wife filed for divorce.

He has dismissed accusations of ties to the Mafia, and criminal cases against him have resumed after a law giving him immunity was overturned.

A week ago tens of thousands of people attended an anti-Berlusconi rally in Rome.