Berlusconi’s attacker apologises for his act

Rome, Dec. 15: An Italian man who broke the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi’s nose and teeth by striking him with a souvenir model has apologised to Mr Berlusconi for his “cowardly and rash act,” the attacker’s lawyers said.

Mr Berlusconi spent his second night in hospital on Tuesday after the Sunday attack by Mr Massimo Tartaglia, 42, who hurled a small replica of Milan’s gothic cathedral at the PM.

Mr Tartaglia, who has a history of mental illness, acted alone and without any political or militant interests at heart, his lawyers said in a brief statement.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Berlusconi, Mr Massimo Tartaglia ex-pressed his “heartfelt regret for a superficial, cowardly and rash act” the statement said.

Allies of Mr Berlusconi have portrayed the attack as the fruit of a “climate of hate” swirling around the Italian PM who frequently accuses “Communist” magistrates, the media and Leftists of a campaign to bring down his government.

A popular but divisive figure, Mr Berlusconi has for much of the year battled allegations of an improper relationship with a teenage model and parties with escorts and now faces the reopening of several trials against him.