| Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's conditions are more serious than expected, the doctor in charge of him said on Monday.
Berlusconi was attacked and injured in the face by a protester and hospitalized in Milan on Sunday evening. The prime minister broke his nose, two of his front teeth and injured his lower lip. He has had stitches and undergone several examinations, though according to the doctor he will not risk being operated.
However, to keep under control his state the prime minister will remain in hospital for at least another two days. He has difficulty eating, has lost a lot of blood and suffers constant headaches, the doctor added. To make a full recovery the prime minister will require three weeks.
Berlusconi on Monday kept on telling his staff and family members to be feeling well and expressed his wish to return soon to work. According to daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, the prime minister said he could have "lost an eye in the attack."
On Sunday evening Berlusconi, at the end of a political rally, was signing autographs when a man from the crowd threw at him a statuette representing the Milan Dome, making his nose and mouth deeply bleed.
The assailant was a 42 year-old man called Massimo Tartaglia, allegedly suffering from serious mental problems. He was arrested immediately following the blow.
Under interrogation, Tartaglia confessed to have been influenced by the political tensions and hate campaign lately launched against the prime minister by the opposition and the judiciary.
On Monday, all institutional leaders and most political forces expressed the need to "tune down" and recover a peaceful dialogue.
According to several leading commentators, Italy is on the verge of re-living the same era of violence and terrorism experienced 30 years ago, when left and right wing militia bitterly contrasted each other.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni on Monday said Berlusconi could have been killed and announced that protection arrangements will be "re-assessed" in light of Sunday's attack. Something in fact went wrong in the traditional security shield around the prime minister, he said.
"The people tasked with Berlusconi's safety are professionals and the prime minister is fully entitled to meet and greet supporters. But these events would be watched more carefully in the future and a range of actions to ensure greater safety at open- air rallies would be weighed."
Maroni is evaluating as well initiatives to block internet forums that have appeared on Facebook and Indymedia praising Massimo Tartaglia. "At Thursday's cabinet meeting I'll propose measures that shall allow us to put an end to this foolishness," he said.
Due to the attack, Berlusconi won't be able to attend the closing days of the Copenhagen conference on climate change.
However, sources in his People of Freedom party (PdL) said the prime minister has confirmed he will give his end-of-year press conference on Dec. 23 and pay another visit to L'Aquila at Christmas to review the reconstruction process after April's earthquake. |
