19 Dec 2009

Man attempts to see Berlusconi in hospital

11:57 am on 19 December 2009

Police in Italy say a man has been arrested while trying to enter the hospital room where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is being treated.

He was intercepted by security guards outside the prime minister's room in a Milan hospital.

Mr Berlusconi, 73, was admitted after an attack on Sunday in which a man hurled a statuette at him. He has a broken nose, two broken teeth and other injuries.

Police say the arrested man did not have any weapons or dangerous objects on him and said he wanted to talk to Mr Berlusconi.

The Italian leader has since been discharged from hospital.