Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi in hospital after punch at rally

[Pikarya]

http://i48.tinypic.com/30u8xh3.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6mfTA3Vqpw

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe...lan/index.html

Rome, Italy (CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will stay in a hospital for observation overnight after being punched in the face at a campaign rally in Milan, a spokesman said Sunday.

The 73-year-old premier was bleeding profusely from his left upper lip after being hit. He underwent a CAT scan at Milan's San Raffaele Hospital, and his personal physician, Alberto Sangrillon, recommended more tests be done, Berlusconi spokesman Paolo Buonaiuti told CNN.

The conservative media-mogul-turned-politician has been dogged by allegations of corruption and is the middle of a messy divorce from his second wife. He was in Milan, his hometown and political base, to stump for a local political ally.

The man who hit Berlusconi was taken away by police after the attack, said Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa, who was with Berlusconi at the time. No details about the attacker were immediately available.

Buonaiuti said there was "a lot of confusion" surrounding the assault, but he put some of the blame on Berlusconi's critics.

"What I can tell you is that there has been such a buildup of hatred toward the premier, and this is not good," Buonaiuti said. "This campaign of hatred has been building quite rapidly recently, and I am not surprised that what happened tonight took place."

La Russa told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the man swung at Berlusconi with "some kind of metallic object" in his hand. The minister said he did not see Berlusconi get hit, however.

"He remained calm and leaned out the window as he was being driven to the hospital and waved to the crowd," La Russa said.

The three-term prime minister faces trial on tax fraud charges after Italy's top court struck down an immunity law that shielded him from prosecution. He denies the charges, calling them politically motivated.

And his private life has been in the spotlight since his wife of 19 years, Veronica Lario, filed for divorce in May. The divorce followed allegations that an Italian businessman hired escorts for the premier and that he had attended the birthday party for an 18-year-old girl, with whom he has denied having an inappropriate relationship.

Berlusconi remains popular among the Italian public, however, with his approval ratings remaining well over 50 percent. He won a third term in 2008, and his conservative coalition has control of both the Italian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

Ohohohoho~

Edit: Updated with vidya.

[Qalbert]

FINISH HIM

[Day]

Hope it was Lime Sherbet punch.

[Kuya]

Not an assassination attempt? What a shame. Although i would miss Il Cavaliers antics.

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

awesome

[Pikarya]

And.... here they come!

http://i48.tinypic.com/331ge2x.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/16a1sg1.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/afkmli.jpg

[Moochi]

Well deserved. Was laughing my ass of when I saw it on the news. He looked so vounerable...boo hoo!

[Pindaro]

He wasn't punched, the aggressor threw a miniature of the Milan Duomo in his face. The kind you can buy for a few euros by the stands around there.

[Conformity]

Yeah, cowardly attacking politicians is a great way to get your point across and a great way to land your ass in jail + a few beatings

[Kuya]

It's a shame that shoe never hit Bush.

[Mayareira]

And.... here they come!

http://i48.tinypic.com/331ge2x.jpg

sadsfsajfksdjfka lol

[Abandon]

shoe? I saw pokeballs.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y36..._by_guruji.gif

[BadKarma]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...Harem/Ezio.jpg


He's real.

[Beckwin]

I hope it was a gypsy who did it.

[Kuya]

Beckwin, why do you want to see another gypsy get beat up by the police?

[Retrieving/C.D/Searain]

I hope it was a gypsy who did it.

It was actually a 42 years old italian dude.

Serves him well though, fucking fascist midget.

[BardonGaruda]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, well deserved!

[Faris]

oh god, that's hilarious, i'm still waiting for the reason this was punched for.

bet's gona be good.

[Gunitsoldier]

I laughed so hard when I saw it on the news :D

[Nevex]

You know, I find surprising how non-Italian people seem to care about one of the most worthless and uninteresting countries in the world...
Berlusconi, or any Prime Minister for that matter, to Italians is the guy you go unleash your rage to if you fail at life, why so much interest about it?

I never found him to be that important, he's just another man who does the usual politician work from one side and abuses of his powers from the other... anything new?