Berlusconi Update: Recovers In Hospital After Bloody Attack

Italian P.M. Silvio Berlusconi is recovering in hospital today after his face was bloodied in an attack during a rally in Milan yesterday. The 73-year-old Prime Minister was approached by a man from the crowd and hit with a statue. Berlusconi's face was bloodied in the attack: his nose was broken and two of his teeth were knocked out. It is reported the P.M. has lost half a liter of blood, suffers from "persistent pain" and might take as long as three weeks to recover.

The person behind the attack is believed to be Massimo Tartaglia, a 42-year-old man with history of mental illness. Tartaglia attacked Berlusconi with a statue that is a replica of Milan's Duomo cathedral.

Berlusconi is still in hospital, but insists he is doing well. Yet, his doctors are saying Berlusconi was visibly shaken by the attack. They said his injuries were more serious than thought before. The P.M. can barely eat and is currently taking antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The attack will keep Berlusconi from attending the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen this week.

After the attack, the bloodied face images of Berlusconi made public by the Italian press prompted compassion toward the controversial PM among ordinary Italians. Experts say it might even help to bring up Berlusconi's approval ratings, which have plunged recently in light of accusations of cheating from his wife, corruption scandals and the loss of political immunity.

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Silvio Berlusconi hospitalised in attack

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