Berlusconi 'to leave hospital shortly'

AFP Global Edition | 2009-12-17 18:10:33

<div><p>Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will leave hospital shortly following the weekend attack in which he suffered severe facial injuries, Italian media reported.</p><p>The 73-year-old leader will be discharged at around 10:30 am (0930 GMT), the all-news television channel Sky TG24 and ANSA news agency reported, without citing sources.</p><p>Berlusconi had a quiet final night in hospital, his doctor said earlier.</p><p>"The prime minister passed a quiet night, without pain, and he may leave hospital earlier than planned, maybe at the end of the morning," Alberto Zangrillo told the ANSA news agency.</p><p>Berlusconi had expected to leave Wednesday but was ordered to stay another night because of persistent pain.</p><p>Sunday's attack left Berlusconi with a broken nose, two broken teeth and other facial injuries, but the prime minister will not need plastic surgery, Zangrillo said earlier.</p><p>Old neck pains that resurfaced after the attack caused Berlusconi severe headaches.</p><p>As he has every day since his hospitalisation late Sunday, the billionaire prime minister rose around seven, asking for the morning papers, ANSA said.</p><p>Police have said Berlusconi's assailant, Massimo Tartaglia, 42, has a long history of psychiatric problems.</p><p>Tartaglia, who could face up to five in jail if convicted of assault, remains in police custody despite a request from his lawyers to transfer him at least temporarily to a psychiatric hospital. </p><p>A judge deemed that Tartaglia was still capable of carrying out a similar act, ANSA reported. </p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=65612201&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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