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| Italian PM 'settled' after attack | Italian PM 'settled' after attack |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi spent a settled night in hospital after being hit in the face by an attacker, Italy's Ansa news agency said. | Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi spent a settled night in hospital after being hit in the face by an attacker, Italy's Ansa news agency said. |
| The agency said Mr Berlusconi's first request upon waking up in the hospital in Milan was to see some newspapers. | The agency said Mr Berlusconi's first request upon waking up in the hospital in Milan was to see some newspapers. |
| The PM, 73, suffered a broken nose, two broken teeth and a cut lip after being hit with a model of Milan cathedral following a rally in the city. | The PM, 73, suffered a broken nose, two broken teeth and a cut lip after being hit with a model of Milan cathedral following a rally in the city. |
| A 42-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with aggravated assault. | A 42-year-old man was arrested and has been charged with aggravated assault. |
| The suspect, Massimo Tartaglia, is reported as having a history of mental illness. | The suspect, Massimo Tartaglia, is reported as having a history of mental illness. |
| ANALYSIS Duncan Kennedy, BBC News, Rome | ANALYSIS Duncan Kennedy, BBC News, Rome |
| Silvio Berlusconi was effectively mugged in front of his own bodyguards and supporters. | Silvio Berlusconi was effectively mugged in front of his own bodyguards and supporters. |
| That breach of security will, of course, be the subject of a full-scale investigation. | That breach of security will, of course, be the subject of a full-scale investigation. |
| How could anyone, especially someone armed (albeit with the most unorthodox of weapons), get close enough to attack the head of government of a major western nation? | How could anyone, especially someone armed (albeit with the most unorthodox of weapons), get close enough to attack the head of government of a major western nation? |
| Berlusconi bloodied but unbowed | Berlusconi bloodied but unbowed |
| The San Raffaele hospital, where Mr Berlusconi is being treated, is expected to issue a statement around midday, Ansa said. | The San Raffaele hospital, where Mr Berlusconi is being treated, is expected to issue a statement around midday, Ansa said. |
| Mr Berlusconi's doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, said it would take a few weeks for the prime minister to fully recover. | Mr Berlusconi's doctor, Alberto Zangrillo, said it would take a few weeks for the prime minister to fully recover. |
| Dr Zangrillo said Mr Berlusconi had had to undergo a CT scan in the hospital but had not required any surgery. | Dr Zangrillo said Mr Berlusconi had had to undergo a CT scan in the hospital but had not required any surgery. |
| "He suffered a big trauma to his face with two evident wounds on the upper lip, one external and one internal which needed surgical suture," he said. | "He suffered a big trauma to his face with two evident wounds on the upper lip, one external and one internal which needed surgical suture," he said. |
| He is believed to have been struck full in the face by the souvenir cathedral while signing autographs. | He is believed to have been struck full in the face by the souvenir cathedral while signing autographs. |
| Dazed | Dazed |
| However Dr Zangrillo said Mr Berlusconi was still not quite sure about what happened to him. | However Dr Zangrillo said Mr Berlusconi was still not quite sure about what happened to him. |
| href="/2/hi/europe/8411734.stm">Italian media reaction class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8411183.stm">In pictures: Attack on Berlusconi | |
| After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car. He got out and tried to climb on the car to show he was all right, before being driven away. | After the attack on Sunday evening the prime minister, looking dazed, was helped to his feet by aides and put in a car. 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. | 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. | There are said to have been scuffles between hecklers and security staff during the rally and before the attack. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME |
| At the hospital, Mr Berlusconi's spokesman, Paolo Bonaiuti said he was worried about the "atmosphere of hatred and violence in the air". | 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." | 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." |
| TROUBLED YEAR FOR BERLUSCONI Apr: Criticised for attending birthday party of 18-year-old Noemi Letizia May: Wife Veronica Lario files for divorce July: Embroiled in politics and sex scandal involving escort Patrizia D'AddarioOct: Stripped of immunity from prosecution Nov: Trial for tax fraud resumesDec: Denies accusations of mafia links In pictures: Berlusconi's annus horribilis | TROUBLED YEAR FOR BERLUSCONI Apr: Criticised for attending birthday party of 18-year-old Noemi Letizia May: Wife Veronica Lario files for divorce July: Embroiled in politics and sex scandal involving escort Patrizia D'AddarioOct: Stripped of immunity from prosecution Nov: Trial for tax fraud resumesDec: Denies accusations of mafia links In pictures: Berlusconi's annus horribilis |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | A week ago tens of thousands of people attended an anti-Berlusconi rally in Rome. |
| Are you in Italy? What is your reaction to the attack? Does this raise security concerns? Has this changed your view of the prime minister? You can send us your views using the form below. | Are you in Italy? What is your reaction to the attack? Does this raise security concerns? Has this changed your view of the prime minister? You can send us your views using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the form below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |