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Man Detained Near Hospital Room of Italian PM

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Italian police detain man near hospital room where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is recovering from attack that left him with broken nose and two broken teeth.

Italian police have detained a man near the hospital room where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is recovering from an attack that left him with a broken nose and two broken teeth.

Police say the man was overpowered Wednesday as he entered the 7th floor of a Milan hospital where Mr. Berlusconi is recovering.

Officials say the intruder told police he wanted to talk to Mr. Berlusconi. They say the man was unarmed at the time of his arrest. They also say the 26-year-old man has mental health problems.

Prime Minister Berlusconi was attacked Sunday by a man wielding a statuette after a rally in Milan. Police have arrested a 42-year-old suspect (Massimo Tartaglia) for the attack, and say he also has a history of mental illness.

Italy's interior minister (Roberto Maroni) said Sunday's suspect was carrying pepper spray and a crucifix as he waited for Mr. Berlusconi along with a crowd of supporters. The suspect said he acted alone and without political motive.

Mr. Berlusconi was shaking hands and signing autographs when his attacker hurled a souvenir statuette that struck the prime minister's face.

On Tuesday, a doctor at San Raffaele hospital in Milan said the 73-year-old Italian leader was still in pain and having trouble eating.




Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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