ITALIAN prime minister Silvio Berlusconi remained in hospital last night after being attacked with a small statue by a mentally disturbed man.
Mr Berlusconi has a fractured nose and broken teeth after the attack in Milan on Sunday.
Police first said it appeared the man had punched Mr Berlusconi in the face while clutching a souvenir statue of Milan’s Duomo, or gargoyled cathedral, which symbolises the city.
Later, however, it became apparent he had been hit with the statue.
The attacker, 42-year-old Massimo Tartaglia who has a history of psychological problems, is being held in prison.
The prime minister lost a lot of blood and is taking antibiotics and drugs for “persistent” pain, a hospital spokesman said.
His vital signs are normal and he is eating with difficulty but will not need surgery, his doctor said.
Mr Berlusconi’s spokesman said the prime minister was tired and had a strong headache
Mr Berlusconi is entangled in a sex scandal and faces criminal trials in Milan after an immunity law was overturned earlier this year.
He has faced protests, with tens of thousands marching in Rome on December 5 to demand his resignation.
Mr Berlusconi has launched vehement attacks at the judiciary, saying the magistrates who put him on trial are politically motivated.
“Staring at his bloodied hand, he told me: ‘There’s a climate of hatred, I expected this would happen,”’ his spokesman said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday sent a message of sympathy to Mr Berlusconi.
Mr Brown’s spokesman said that the prime minister expressed “shock” at the attack.
Informing reporters about the message yesterday, Mr Brown’s spokesman said: “The sentiment was very much being shocked to hear about the attack and wishing him well in his convalescence.”