Photographs: Ho New / Reuters
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was left with bleeding nose and teeth after being hit in the face by a statue at a political rally. The 73-year-old media tycoon-turned-politician suffered cuts that needed stitches after being attacked by a man called Massimo Tartaglia, 42, after giving a fiery speech to supporters of his People of Freedom party near the Milan cathedral.
"I was about a meter away and I saw blood coming from the premier's nose and mouth," The Sun quoted Italian defence minister Ignazio La Russa as saying.
'This is truly a bad day for Italy'
Photographs: Ho New / Reuters
Berlusconi's top ally Gianfranco Fini said, "This is truly a bad day for Italy."
Berlusconi will stay in hospital under observation for 24 hours, it was reported.
Berlusconi began his third stint as the prime minister in May 2008. But a series of allegations about his private life earlier this year, which led to his wife filing for divorce, and his penchant for making controversial public statements have added to the political pressure against him.
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