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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Berlusconi collapses during rally | Berlusconi collapses during rally |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been diagnosed with a minor heart complaint after being taken ill during a speech in northern Italy. | |
| Mr Berlusconi, 70, slumped at the podium at a rally in Tuscany and collapsed into the arms of his aides. | Mr Berlusconi, 70, slumped at the podium at a rally in Tuscany and collapsed into the arms of his aides. |
| Speaking later, Mr Berlusconi said doctors had advised him to spend 24 hours under observation in hospital. | |
| Twice prime minister, Mr Berlusconi has been leader of the opposition since losing power in elections in April. | Twice prime minister, Mr Berlusconi has been leader of the opposition since losing power in elections in April. |
| Mr Berlusconi - Italy's richest man - went on trial last week for alleged fraud and money laundering and could face up to 12 years in jail if convicted. He denies all charges against him. | Mr Berlusconi - Italy's richest man - went on trial last week for alleged fraud and money laundering and could face up to 12 years in jail if convicted. He denies all charges against him. |
| The trial is due to resume in Milan on Monday. | The trial is due to resume in Milan on Monday. |
| 'Irregular heartbeat' | |
| Mr Berlusconi had been speaking for about 40 minutes in the spa resort of Montecatini Terme when he suddenly slumped at the podium. | |
| Several members of Mr Berlusconi's entourage rushed to his aid but he was unable to stand up and had to be carried out of the room. | Several members of Mr Berlusconi's entourage rushed to his aid but he was unable to stand up and had to be carried out of the room. |
| His doctor said he was examined by a cardiologist before leaving the venue half an hour later. | |
| Shortly after he collapsed, former lower house speaker Irene Pivetti told the audience that Mr Berlusconi was recovering. | Shortly after he collapsed, former lower house speaker Irene Pivetti told the audience that Mr Berlusconi was recovering. |
| "He felt unwell due to the tension, he is very sorry and wants to continue but the doctor has told him not to," Ms Pivetti said. | "He felt unwell due to the tension, he is very sorry and wants to continue but the doctor has told him not to," Ms Pivetti said. |
| Speaking outside his villa later on Sunday, Mr Berlusconi told reporters he would spend the night in a Milan hospital. | |
| "I collapsed from exhaustion, from the heat, from hard work, from antibiotics I am taking for a knee operation," he said. | |
| An electrocardiogram had revealed "something like an irregular heartbeat", he added, so doctors wanted to keep him under observation. |