Injured Berlusconi to stay in hospital until Wednesday

MILAN - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will have to spend a third night in hospital recovering from being hit in the face by an attacker, and will be discharged Wednesday, the premier’s doctor said Tuesday.

Doctors have also advised Berlusconi to “refrain from public engagements for at least two weeks,” Doctor Alberto Zangrillo said, citing a medical report issued by the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

The 73-year-old Berlusconi suffered a broken nose, two broken teeth, and cuts to his lips when he was struck Sunday evening with a souvenir statuette replica of Milan’s Cathedral. He has been in hospital ever since.

The alleged assailant, 42-year-old Massimo Tartaglia, was taken into custody shortly after Berlusconi was hit. His lawyers Tuesday asked that their client be moved to a psychiatric hospital.

The investigating magistrate, Cristina Di Censo, did not immediately decide on the request, according to Tartaglia’s lawyer Daniela Insalaco, who said her client was “in a fairly good,” condition.

Tartagila, who has a history of psychological problems, has written a letter in which he apologized to Berlusconi, expressing “deeply felt” regret for a “cowardly and rash” act.