Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been hit in the face and knocked to the ground after a political rally in Milan.
Mr Berlusconi, 73, with blood around his mouth and on his face. Reports suggested he had either been punched or hit with an object.
Mr Berlusconi was taken to hospital. A first medical report said two teeth were damaged, with one broken.
A man, who reportedly has a history of mental problems, has been arrested.
Massimo Tartaglia, 42, had no previous criminal record, police were quoted as saying.
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.
It was a typical show of defiance by a political fighter, says the BBC’s Duncan Kennedy in Rome.
Mr Berlusconi was to be kept under observation in a hospital in Milan for 24 hours, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.
At hospital he was quoted as saying: “I’m well, I’m well.”
2 comments
Ahmet
December 15, 2009 at 6:24 AM (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Why you spamming the emails for?
Admin
December 15, 2009 at 4:14 PM (UTC 1) Link to this comment
Yo, it weren’t even me.. only took the opportunity